US President Donald Trump signed a decree pardoning the formerly convicted bank robbery and later charity founder John Ponder, who later appeared on Tuesday at the Republican Party's national convention, TASS reported.

A few hours before the start of the broadcast of the second day of the convention, the White House shared a video of Trump in the White House in the presence of Ponder, signing a decree on his pardon.

Thanks to the presidential pardon, Ponder, who has already served his term, will now have his conviction removed.

According to Fox News, Ponder was first arrested for armed robbery when he was only 16 years old. For the next 20 years, he either found himself at large, then again went to prison for various crimes. He was imprisoned for robbing a bank for the last time. After being released, he founded a charitable organization that helps former prisoners start a new life.