U.S. President Donald Trump has granted amnesty to a convicted bank robber, Jon Ponder, who is now running a post-prison assistance programme.

A pre-recorded camera footage showed Trump signing an executive order for the pardon, with Ponder standing beside him.

In accordance with the Republican National Convention, the president’s move is seen by some as an attempt to draw attention to criminal justice and the promotion of a second chance opportunity to repentant criminals.

According to reports, Ponder pleaded guilty to bank robbery in 2005, and was released from prison in 2009. In 2010, he founded “Hope for Prisoners, a non-governmental organization assisting released prisoners to reintegrate into society.

The president who allegedly met Ponder when he was invited to a National Day of Prayer event at the White House in 2018 lauded Ponder’s commitment to Christianity and his friendship with Richard Beasley, a retired FBI agent who arrested him, and who accompanied him to the event.

It was gathered that Beasley was also with Ponder at the signing of the pardon at the White House yesterday.

Before signing the order, Trump affirmed that he believed that everyone was created by God for a purpose as he stated:

“I will continue to give all Americans, including former inmates, the best chance to build a new life and achieve their own American dream, and a great American dream it is.

“My hope for America is that formerly incarcerated people will be afforded the opportunity to take advantage of the fact that we live in a nation of second chances.”