Camilla Jessen
The decision came quietly but immediately set off debate about fairness, justice and political power.
President Donald Trump has commuted the federal prison sentence of James Phillip Womack, the son of Republican Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney, the commutation was issued on Jan. 15 and formally announced through an Executive Grant of Clemency.
James Womack had been serving an eight-year federal sentence for distributing more than five grams of methamphetamine.
Original conviction
Federal prosecutors indicted Womack in April 2023, according to court records cited by PEOPLE. He was later convicted in May 2024 and sentenced to eight years in prison and a $1,900 fine.
The sentence also included five years of supervised release, which he will still be required to serve despite the commutation, Arkansas outlets KTHV, KNWA and KATV reported.
The indictment also included a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Congressman’s response
Rep. Steve Womack publicly thanked the president for the decision.
“I am grateful to President Trump for this gracious and thoughtful action,” the congressman said in a statement obtained by Arkansas media. “The commutation has allowed my son to be with his family during a profoundly difficult time.”
He added that a phone call between Trump and his wife’s medical care team was something he would “cherish forever.”
A long legal history
James Womack’s criminal record stretches back to 2007, according to KTHV. In 2018, he was arrested on more than 10 charges, many involving drugs and firearms.
He later entered a plea agreement and was sentenced in state court to nine years in prison for multiple felony offenses. He was released early in 2020 but was later arrested again, KNWA reported.
Past family statements
Following his son’s 2018 arrest, Rep. Womack addressed the situation publicly.
“Like so many families across this nation, our family has been dealing with a loved one’s addiction,” he said at the time. “We love him unconditionally; however, as an adult, he is accountable for the choices he’s made.”
The clemency decision comes as the Trump administration has emphasized a hardline stance on drug trafficking, including citing narcotics smuggling as part of its justification for actions abroad and intensified ICE operations at home.
The contrast has fueled criticism, even as supporters argue the move reflects compassion toward addiction.
Sources: PEOPLE, Office of the Pardon Attorney, KTHV, KNWA, KATV
