Vice President Kamala Harris hosted a roundtable discussion on criminal justice reform at the White House on Thursday, April 25, attended by recently pardoned former inmates and reality TV star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian. During the meeting, Harris announced the finalization of changes to a Small Business Administration rule, which will remove most restrictions based on a person’s criminal record.
Harris thanked Kardashian for her advocacy and using her platform to promote second chances.
Kardashian — who became an activist for criminal reform during the Trump administration — discussed the impact of these reforms on prison reentry, particularly highlighting the changes related to small business loans for former inmates.
She emphasized the importance of sharing and amplifying the stories of those affected by stringent legal policies to inspire others in similar situations.
The roundtable occurred a day after President Joe Biden pardoned 11 people and commuted the sentences of five others, all convicted of non-violent drug offenses. Four of those pardoned participated in Thursday’s meeting.