Former President Donald Trump has announced his decision to fully pardon reality television personalities Todd and Julie Chrisley, both of whom have served more than two years in prison following their conviction for tax evasion and bank fraud.
The couple, known for their appearances on the USA Network show “Chrisley Knows Best,” which aired from 2014 to 2023, garnered attention for their portrayal of a wealthy family living in the Atlanta and Nashville areas.
Despite presenting themselves as self-made multimillionaires and successful real estate tycoons, Todd and Julie Chrisley were eventually accused of dishonest practices to fund their lavish lifestyle.
Federal prosecutors revealed that they conspired to defraud community banks in Atlanta, securing over $36 million in personal loans and spending the funds on luxury cars, designer clothes, real estate, and lavish travel.
They further pointed out that the Chrisleys failed to pay taxes for the years 2013 to 2016.
In 2022, after being convicted by a jury, Todd was sentenced to 12 years and Julie to 7 years in federal prison.
At that time, then-U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan emphasized the seriousness of the Chrisleys’ actions, stating, “Over the course of a decade, the defendants defrauded banks out of tens of millions of dollars while evading payment of their federal income taxes.”
The sentences handed down reflected the extent of their criminal scheme, as Buchanan noted.
The Chrisleys have consistently maintained their innocence, claiming they were targeted due to their conservative beliefs.
Their eldest daughter, Savannah Chrisley, has been particularly vocal about her parents’ plight and is an outspoken critic of the criminal justice system following their incarceration.
In July, she even took to the stage at the Republican National Convention to describe her parents as victims of political persecution.
After Trump’s election, Savannah revealed that she was pursuing legal avenues to secure her parents’ pardon, indicating her efforts included a lunch meeting at the White House in February.
These efforts appear to have borne fruit, as a video posted by White House special assistant Margo Martin showed Trump calling Savannah from the Oval Office to relay the news about her parents’ pardons.
Trump expressed hope that the pardons could be finalized as soon as the next day.
He stated, “I don’t know them but give them my regards and wish them a good life,” while Alice Marie Johnson, his pardon czar, was present during the call.
A White House spokesperson later communicated that the Chrisleys’ sentences were excessively harsh and reaffirmed Trump’s commitment to offering second chances to Americans, particularly those perceived as being unfairly targeted.
The legal team representing the Chrisleys, Litson PLLC, issued a statement asserting that their prosecution involved constitutional violations and political bias.
The attorney, Alex Little, praised their exemplary behavior during incarceration, detailing Julie’s achievement of numerous educational certificates and Todd’s advocacy for improved prison conditions.
He remarked, “This pardon corrects a deep injustice and restores two devoted parents to their family and community,” attributing the decision to Trump’s recognition of their mistreatment due to their prominent conservative views.
Savannah expressed her gratitude to Trump both during the call and in various social media posts, enthusiastically sharing that her parents would soon return home.
She stated, “I am eternally grateful,” and added, “I’m freaking out, I’m still sweating. We’re getting some clothes together for Mom and Dad, we’re getting their room put together upstairs, and I’m just speechless. … My parents get to start their lives over.”
In the lead-up to establishing their legal troubles, a federal grand jury had indicted Todd and Julie in 2019 on 12 counts, which included bank and wire fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy.
Their accountant, Peter Tarantino, also faced legal consequences for his role, being convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States and willfully filing false tax returns.
After beginning their prison terms in January 2023, Todd and Julie immediately set about appealing their convictions.
Julie was later moved to a prison in Kentucky, while both served their sentences in separate Florida facilities.
In September 2023, their sentences were adjusted for good behavior, with Todd’s term reduced by two years and Julie’s by 14 months.
An appeals court upheld their convictions in 2024, though Julie’s case was returned to a lower court due to a calculation error, which ultimately confirmed her original sentence.
Savannah has also spoken candidly about the difficulties she faced during her parents’ incarceration, including taking on guardianship responsibilities for her younger brother and niece and addressing the harsh conditions within prisons.
She recounted her mother’s struggles with extreme heat while imprisoned in Kentucky, describing how conditions were so severe that her mother fell ill as a result.
The Chrisleys’ show, along with its spinoff, “Growing Up Chrisley,” received cancellations following their convictions.
However, mere days before the pardon announcement, Lifetime proclaimed plans to bring the Chrisley family back to screens with a new docuseries titled “The Untitled Chrisleys Project.”
The series aims to portray the family’s life while Todd and Julie are serving their sentences, illustrating the challenges of maintaining their family and legacy through limited phone calls and brief prison visits.
In summary, as Trump continues to make high-profile pardons, including several supporters associated with the January 6th Capitol riots, the Chrisleys’ pardon highlights ongoing debates surrounding systemic issues in the American criminal justice system.
This recent pardon adds to a series of controversial decisions made by Trump, who previously pardoned individuals including former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and Tennessee State Senator Brian Kelsey, both of whom had faced significant legal challenges of their own.
In these cases, supporters have echoed sentiments about being unfairly prosecuted, with Kelsey stating after his pardon, “May God bless America, despite the prosecutorial sins it committed against me, President Trump, and others the past four years.”
image source from：https://www.npr.org/2025/05/28/nx-s1-5414091/todd-julie-chrisley-pardon-trump
