Last week President Trump announced plans to embark on
prison reform. Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner is leading
the effort.
They find themselves with an unlikely ally in the effort - CNN's
Van Jones.
Jones was the first to admit the "surreal"
experience of sitting across from President Trump at the White House after
"beating up" on him for so long. Still, he agreed with everything the
president said at the prison reform summit, he told CNN Monday.
"On this issue he has been tough," Jones said
of Trump.
Included in Trump's proposal are steps to improve
conditions for women in prison, to offer prisoners more privileges, and to
smooth the process of releasing prisoners back into society.
"Prison reform is an issue that unites people from
across our political spectrum," Trump said. "It’s an amazing thing. Our whole nation
benefits if former inmates are able to re-enter our society adds productive,
law-abiding citizens."
Trump showed a compassion for prisoners "the most
liberal Democrat would have agreed with," Jones noted.
He said this despite being teased a bit by Trump during
the president's prepared remarks.
The Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of 48
lawmakers, has endorsed the prison plan.
How great would it be if on this issue, they could work
together to "help the least of these," Jones asked during his CNN
appearance.
"Send a bill to my desk," Trump told his
audience on Friday. "I will sign it."
