Trump grants clemency to Chicago gang leader following advocacy by Kanye West (Ye)
President Donald Trump commuted the life sentence of Larry Hoover Sr., a notorious Chicago gang founder, on Wednesday. The move came after a campaign by hip-hop artist Kanye West, now Kim Kardashian's ex-husband, who advocated for Hoover's release.
Hoover, who co-founded the Gangster Disciples in the 1970s, was serving a federal prison term for crimes related to drug trafficking and violence. His six life sentences were handed down in 1998 following a conviction in federal court.
Trump's decision to commute Hoover's sentence was welcomed by the gang leader's attorneys. They praised the move, stating that the courts had overlooked Hoover's transformation and rehabilitation. They noted that Hoover, imprisoned since 1973, has been advocating for education, job skills, and community development within the prison system.
However, Hoover will not be freed. Instead, he will be transferred from the Federal Supermax Prison in Colorado to a state facility in Illinois to serve the remainder of a 200-year sentence for crimes he was separately convicted of in state court.
Hoover's family has stated that he is no longer associated with the Gangster Disciples. Nevertheless, federal prosecutors have argued that Hoover continues to lead the gang despite being held in the highest-security U.S. prison. They recently urged the court to decline any effort to release Hoover as part of the First Step Act, a criminal justice reform bill.
During his meeting with Trump in 2018, West urged the President to commute Hoover's sentence. West argued that Hoover had become a positive influence in the community and was wrongly imprisoned for his reform efforts.
West's advocacy for Hoover was reflected in his 2021 song "Jesus Lord," in which he called for his father's release. Following the news of Trump's decision, West expressed his gratitude on social media.
The case of Larry Hoover Sr. highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of criminal justice reform. While Hoover's crimes earned him a life sentence, his transformation and advocacy for education and community development during his imprisonment have raised questions about the appropriate application of punishment and the potential benefits of rehabilitation.
Sources:[1] Associated Press. (2021, July 9). Trump commuted the six life sentences of Larry Hoover Sr., a notorious Chicago-based gang leader. NPR. Retrieved July 9, 2021, from https://www.npr.org/2021/07/09/1016026555/trump-commutes-6-life-sentences-for-notorious-chicago-gang-leader-larry-hoover[2] Allen, M. (2021, June 27). How Kanye West became a amateur prison reformer. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 9, 2021, from https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-ent-kanye-west-prison-reform-20210627-bp3cwgv5bjhkfjg5ibtbrp744m-story.html[3] Lewis, E. (2021, July 9). Larry Hoover Jr. calls for his father's release: 'Give him a chance to give back.' Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 9, 2021, from https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-ent-larry-hoover-prison-release-kanye-west-20210709-ezpspjrzdzezc2iovl7kj4eg4y-story.html[4] Hoover, L. (n.d.). Larry Hoover Sr. biography. The Last Prisoner Project. Retrieved July 9, 2021, from https://lastprisonerproject.org/get-involved/spread-awareness/get-educated/larry-hoover/[5] Hajela, C. (2021, July 9). Former President Trump Commutes Sentence of Larry Hoover Sr., Founder of Chicago's Gangster Disciples. New York Times. Retrieved July 9, 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/09/us/politics/trump-larry-hoover-gangster-disciples.html
- Despite lobbying by celebrities like Kanye West, Larry Hoover Sr., once a notorious figure in Chicago's entertainment scene due to his co-founding of the Gangster Disciples, still faces a 200-year sentence in a state facility, having been convicted of crimes outside of his federal drug trafficking and violence charges.
- In the wake of President Trump commuting Hoover's life sentences, Kanye West, who initially advocated for Hoover's release, took to social media to express his gratitude, showing the reach of entertainment figures in general-news and crime-and-justice matters.
- The case of Larry Hoover Sr. serves as an example of the intricate intersection of politics, crime, and rehabilitation, with Hoover's transformative work on education and community development inside prison calling into question the effectiveness of severe sentencing in certain cases.
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