Trump On Death Penalty For Drug Dealers Applying To A Woman He Champions: 'She Wouldn't Have Done It If...'

In a Fox News interview on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump reiterated his stance on imposing the death penalty for convicted drug dealers, a move that would have affected Alice Johnson, a woman he pardoned during his presidency.

What Happened: Trump defended his record on crime, stating that his pardon powers were focused largely on nonviolent offenders. However, anchor Bret Baier pointed out that Johnson, who was serving a life sentence for charges related to cocaine distribution and money laundering, would have been subject to the death penalty under Trump’s plan.

Trump responded, "She wouldn't have done it, if it was death penalty. In other words, if it was death penalty, she wouldn't have been on that phone call," The Hill reports.

Why It Matters: Trump’s advocacy for the death penalty for drug dealers is a consistent part of his rhetoric, despite his record of pardoning several people convicted of selling drugs. His stance comes amid his ongoing legal battles, including a classified documents case with a trial date set for August 14, potentially clashing with the Republican primary debates. Trump is the GOP frontrunner for the 2024 presidential election.

Trump’s stance on drug-related crimes and the death penalty has drawn criticism, especially considering cases like Alice Johnson’s. Yusef Salaam, one of the Central Park Five who Trump had called for the execution of in the 1980s, referred to Trump’s recent legal troubles as “karma.” Salaam referred to Trump’s arrest as karma.

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