Alice Johnson, Rep. Kennedy Kent potentially exposed to COVID-19

Alice Johnson and Rep. Kennedy Kent were both in contact with President Donald Trump before his coronavirus diagnosis

Oct 2, 2020

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19 and now others such as Alice Johnson, pardoned by Trump this year, and Ohio Rep. Bernadine Kennedy Kent may have been potentially exposed.

Trump announced in the early morning hours of Friday that he and the first lady Melania Trump were infected with the coronavirus. Those who have recently been in contact with the president or exposed to him such as Democratic nominee Joe Biden have undergone testing. Johnson and Rep. Kennedy Kent may have also been compromised.

Johnson spent more than two decades in prison for eight criminal counts related to a Memphis-based cocaine trafficking operation after a 1996 conviction. Trump commuted her sentence in 2018 after Kim Kardashian brought her case to the attention of Trump. He offered her a full pardon at the Republican National Convention in August.

President Donald Trump Participates In Prison Reform Summit And First Step Act Celebration At The White House — U.S. President Donald Turmp (L) asks Alice Marie Johnson, “Are you sure?” after she thanked the press during a celebration of the First Step Act in the East Room of the White House April 01, 2019 in Washington, DC. The First Step Act passed Congress with bipartisan support in December 2018, prompting the release of more than 500 inmates as a result. Trump praised the reform legislation as proof that the United States “believes in redemption.” (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Johnson is a vocal supporter of the president and has pushed back against any claim that she is a pawn.

“I’m 65 years old, Gayle. And don’t no one tell me what to do. I got my own mind. I do what I want to do,” she told CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King in September. “And since I got my pardon papers, I put those pardon papers in my back pocket. And I’m free totally to do whatever I want to do.”

Earlier in the week, she traveled aboard Air Force One to accompany Trump to the first presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio.

I am beyond proud of my dear friend @AliceMarieFree who was able to fly aboard #AirForceOne #901GoodNews She will be at the #DebateTuesday #Debate2020 tonight pic.twitter.com/68tNCDzdey
— Amy Speropoulos (@AmySperopTV) September 29, 2020

There has been no mention yet if Johnson has been tested for COVID-19.

Similarly, theGrio reported Kennedy Kent greeted the president when Air Force One arrived in Ohio for the debate. The Democratic lawmaker also endorsed him for a second term and declared that his values aligned with hers.

Ohio Rep. Bernadine Kennedy Kent Trump thegrio.com — (Credit: Rep. Kennedy Kent)

“We all recognize that gainful employment and economic development is the best deterrent against violence and social unrest, so I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to ensuring the success of the Black community in every way,” Kennedy Kent said in a news release.

There has also been no word if she has contracted the virus after being in close contact with the commander-in-chief.

Trump has been attempting to make inroads with the Black community in his re-election bid. Johnson and Kennedy Kent have been seen by the White House as surrogates for those voters. However, sources close to Trump claim he was upset that these endorsements, in addition to passing the First Step Act, has not drastically changed his low polling numbers with Black Americans.

Representatives for Johnson and Kennedy Kent did not immediately respond to a request for comment from theGrio.

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