Kim Kardashian says news of Rodney Reed's halted execution brought 'relief and hope'

Continuing on her streak of working to free convicts like Alice Marie Johnson, Kim Kardashian is opening up about being with Rodney Reed when he learned his execution would be halted.

"When we got the news it was just this overwhelming sigh of relief and hope," Kardashian West said in an interview with the "Today" show's Jenna Bush Hager on Monday. "It was extremely emotional and he said 'praise Jesus.' I could just feel his soul when he said that."

Kardashian tweeted at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last month urging him to stop the execution of Reed.

"I will usually go to the length of speaking with either the person or their family members and my group of attorneys before I do something like that," she said. "I really am strategic when I'm tweeting about someone's life... I never want to do that if i feel it will hinder the case. Sometimes I think the governor wouldn't want the pressure of talking to a celebrity about the case."

The highest criminal appeals court in Texas halted the pending execution of Reed, who was scheduled to die next week for the killing of Stacey Stites in 1996.

The development came just hours after the Texas parole board voted unanimously Friday to recommend that Abbott delay Reed's execution. The parole board had recommended a 120-day reprieve for Reed, 51. Abbott previously rejected any delay in the execution.

"The most amazing thing I saw from the case was the bipartisan support," she added, noting everyone from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to activist Sean King have weighed in on the case. "They say it takes a village but really, it takes a country."

The reality star, who announced plans to become a lawyer after helping to free Johnson, said becoming a mother influenced her foray into the legal system, making her more sympathetic. She has four children with husband Kanye West: North, 6, Saint, 3, Chicago, 1, and Psalm, 6 months.

"When you become a mom, you become so protective and you want to hopefully make their world the most perfect place ever," she said. "And ours obviously isn't. I see especially how black men are treated differently in this country and I'm raising two black men so i want to make sure my world and their world is as safe and as fair as possible."

According to Bush Hager, Kardashian is working with Reed's legal team as a part of her lawyer apprenticeship, which she started summer 2018. Eventually, she wants to open her own law firm and work with formerly incarcerated people.

"It's just been such journey that I didn't imagine I would be on, but I'm so glad I am," Kardashian said. "I love that we've been able to get a lot of work done and I just don't want to stop that."

Contributing Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kim Kardashian talks Rodney Reed's halted execution on 'Today' show