Kim Kardashian continues to use her voice and influence when it comes to helping to change the lives of inmates she believes deserves a second chance. One person she is currently helping is Brandon Bernard, and she is calling on Donald Trump to help bring a stop to his execution.
On Wednesday, Kim tweeted Donald Trump for his help as Brandon is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, December 10th. Kim said, “Brandon Bernard, a 40-year-old father is going to be executed tomorrow by our federal government. Having gotten to know Brandon, I am heartbroken about this execution. I’m calling on Donald Trump to grant Brandon a commutation and allow him to live out his sentence in prison.”
Last month, Kim Kardashian tweeted some details about Brandon’s case.
First, I want to say that a terrible crime was committed and me fighting for a stay of execution does not take away from the sympathy I have for the victim's Todd and Stacie Bagley, and their families. My heart breaks for everyone involved.
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) November 29, 2020
In fact, Brandon was not a part of the initial carjacking that took place and was stunned when the robbery turned into a homicide with one of the other teens shooting both Todd and Stacie in the head.
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) November 29, 2020
At trial Brandon's attorney fell short by not hiring any experts who could have explained to the jury why Brandon decided to leave the video game store that night or how he had grown up in an abusive home,
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) November 29, 2020
In fact, two jurors who have since stated that had they learned about Brandon's background or how at just a few months past 18 his brain was still developing, they would NOT have voted for the death penalty.
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) November 29, 2020
Although all five teens were black, 11 of the 12 jurors were white. This, coupled with the misleading and incomplete information the jury was given, deprived the boys of a fair trial.
Instead of being executed, Brandon could live out his sentence in prison.
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) November 29, 2020
He has now been on death row for 20+ years with zero disciplinary write ups. He uses his time to reach out to at-risk youth, advising them to not stray from the Lord's path (or not follow in his teenage footsteps).
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) November 29, 2020
According to Page Six, Brandon is currently at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana. However, if his sentence is not commuted, he would become the ninth federal prisoner to be executed after the Trump administration’s decision to end a 17-year pause in federal executions earlier in 2020.
Fox News reports that Brandon’s attorney’s had been working for a stay in his execution and argued that during his trial, the prosecution in the case withheld a critical expert witness who could prove Brandon’s status in the gang was too small and he didn’t have enough authority to make the decisions.
However, on Tuesday, Judge James Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Indiana denied their request.
Kim is staying persistent and added, “Most of the time executions happen, in our names, without a lot of attention given to them. This is unacceptable. For the next 24 hours, I will be tweeting about Brandon and his case and why his life should be spared by Donald Trump.”
Most of the time executions happen, in our names, without a lot of attention given to them. This is unacceptable. For the next 24 hours I will be tweeting about Brandon and his case and why his life should be spared by @realDonaldTrump.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 9, 2020
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TSR STAFF: Jade Ashley @Jade_Ashley94
