This undated photo shows boxer Jack Johnson. President Donald Trump says he’s considering “a Full Pardon!” for boxing’s first black heavyweight champion. | AP Photo Trump says he's 'considering' a pardon for boxer Jack Johnson

President Donald Trump said Saturday he is considering a posthumous pardon for boxing champion Jack Johnson, who was convicted over a century ago under racially motivated charges for his relationship with a white woman.

"Sylvester Stallone called me with the story of heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson," Trump wrote on Twitter. "His trials and tribulations were great, his life complex and controversial. Others have looked at this over the years, most thought it would be done, but yes, I am considering a Full Pardon!"


Since taking office, Trump has pardoned former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio and, more recently, Lewis “Scooter” Libby, the chief of staff to former Vice President Dick Cheney. Arpaio was convicted of contempt of court; Libby was convicted following the investigation into the leak of the identity of CIA officer Valerie Plame.

At the time of Libby's pardon, California Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff, ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, said the pardon sent a message that Trump would look out for his allies if special counsel Robert Mueller leveled charges against them in the ongoing probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Conservatives, including Cheney, welcomed the move.

POLITICO Playbook newsletter Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletter in politics Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Stallone, best known for playing fictional boxer Rocky Balboa in the "Rocky" movie franchise, is the latest boxing stalwart to press the case for Johnson, the first black world champion.

According to a Washington Post report, former world champion Mike Tyson was part of a failed effort to secure Johnson a pardon during the Obama administration. Other efforts to win a pardon for Johnson have included those of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), documentarian Ken Burns and former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a former boxer himself.

The Post report says Johnson was convicted of violating the Mann Act, a federal law that made it a crime to transport women across state lines "for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose," which was supposed to target prostitution but was also used to criminalize interracial relationships. Johnson had seven wives, four of whom were white.

Johnson was tried and convicted, serving a year at the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas.