Trump pardons Lil Wayne and Kodak Black during final day in office

Outgoing US President Donald Trump has pardoned Lil Wayne and commuted the prison sentence of Kodak Black during his last full day in office.

Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that the rappers appeared on the list of individuals Trump was expected to pardon. Today (January 19), those speculations were confirmed.

Wayne and Kodak Black were two of over 140 people who were pardoned or had their sentences commuted on Trump’s final day in office. That list also notably includes former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon, who was a founding member of far-right media organisation Breitbart News.

Back in December, Wayne pled guilty to a federal firearms charge relating to a December 2019 incident, in which he was arrested for illegal possession of a handgun during a flight on his private jet from California to Florida. He had been set to appear in court on January 28, facing a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The rapper met with Trump back in October of last year ahead of the federal election, posting a heavily-criticised photo of the pair together on his social media accounts.

“Just had a great meeting with [Trump] besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership,” he wrote alongside the image. “He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done.”

Just had a great meeting with @realdonaldtrump @potus besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done. pic.twitter.com/Q9c5k1yMWf

— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) October 29, 2020

Today (January 19), Lil Wayne took to social media again, appearing to tweet about his pardon.

“Because he had a dream I am able to live out my dreams. I am forever mindful. Forever grateful. Because he had a dream I’ll never stop dreaming and dreams are forever. King. Forever,” the rapper wrote on Twitter.

Because he had a dream I am able to live out my dreams. I am forever mindful. Forever grateful. Because he had a dream I’ll never stop dreaming and dreams are forever. King. Forever.

— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) January 18, 2021

Kodak, meanwhile, is currently serving a 46-month prison sentence on federal weapons charges. He was sentenced back in November 2019 after being found guilty of falsifying information on background forms while attempting to purchase firearms.

Late last year, in a since-deleted tweet, the rapper – real name Bill Kahan Kapri – said he would give $1million to charity if the President released him from prison early.

Earlier this month, Lil Yachty tweeted at Trump, calling for Kapri to be released.

“My friend… deserves to be commuted,” Yachty wrote on January 5. “The system punished him way to [sic] hard for a paperwork crime.”

Hey @realDonaldTrump my friend @KodakBlack1k deserves to be commuted. The system punished him way to hard for a paperwork crime #freekodak

— concrete boy boat (@lilyachty) January 4, 2021

Kodak Black is yet to comment on Trump’s decision to commute his sentence.

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