Trump Commutes Gang Leader Larry Hoover’s Sentence After Kanye West’s Lobbying
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of Larry Hoover Sr., the founder of the Gangster Disciples gang, following high-profile lobbying efforts by musician and entrepreneur Kanye West, now known as Ye.
Hoover was serving six life sentences after his 1998 conviction on federal charges, including drug trafficking, murder, and organized crime-related offenses. Trump reduced his sentence as part of a broader wave of pardons and commutations, according to NBC News, a partner of Sky News.
Kanye West had previously met with Trump at the White House to advocate for Hoover’s release, calling attention to what he described as excessive sentencing and the need for reform.
Hoover’s case was one of several considered in Trump’s clemency actions, which also included a former New York congressman, a Connecticut governor, rapper NBA YoungBoy, a labor union leader, and a former military officer.
The decision has sparked renewed debate over presidential pardons and the influence of celebrity activism on criminal justice.