Todd Chrisley and his wife Julie have been discharged from prison, following presidential pardons granted by Donald Trump.
Trump Pardons Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
President Donald Trump pardoned disgraced reality TV personalities Todd and Julie Chrisley last Wednesday, freeing them from prison, according to their legal counsel. The pair, known for the USA Network show "Chrisley Knows Best," are now headed back to Nashville following their release.
Convicted in 2022 of fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy to defraud the United States, the Chrisleys—dubbed the "Trumps of the South"—were unanimously found guilty by a jury. Lawyer Alex Little, who represents the couple, could not provide a reason for Trump’s decision to pardon them.
Savannah Chrisley, one of the couple’s daughters, had met with the Trump family prior to the President's inauguration and reportedly advocated for their release. Her efforts are said to have been instrumental in securing the pardon.
Brett Tolman, a former federal prosecutor who has worked in Trump’s orbit, reportedly played a role in the pardon process. Tolman, who formerly represented Savannah Chrisley, had previously helped secure a pardon for Charles Kushner, the father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Trump, who himself was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York City last year, did not grant pardons to the Chrisleys when he was initially in office. Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump have not been reportedly involved in the pardon process.
The Chrisleys' legal team asserted that their prosecution was motivated by their celebrity status. In a statement, Little said, "They were treated more harshly because of their status. And that's not the way our criminal justice system is supposed to work."
Others, like Musa Ghanayem, a lawyer for Chrisley's daughter Lindsie, believe Trump acted correctly in granting the pardon. "When they make a pardon, sometimes presidents get it right, sometimes they get it wrong. This time I think he got it right."
While Trump granted pardons to several high-profile individuals, including Sheriff Scott Jenkins of Culpeper County, Virginia, and convicted tax cheat Paul Walczak, his decision to pardon the Chrisleys has elicited mixed reactions within the legal community. An assistant U.S. attorney expressed disdain, stating, "The general feeling is why are we working so hard to enforce the law when everything we do can be erased with the stroke of a pen?"
Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while Julie Chrisley was sentenced to 7 years. Their accountant, Peter Tarantino, served a three-year sentence for tax-related charges. The Chrisleys had formally requested pardons in February 2021, during Trump’s second term. Trump reportedly called the couple to announce the news of their pardons on Tuesday, with Todd Chrisley expressing his gratitude. Since taking office, Trump has issued thousands of pardons and commutations, including for those involved in the January 6th U.S. Capitol attack.
As the Chrisleys begin their return to public life, it remains unclear whether they will reenter the realm of reality television. The couple's attorney indicated that their immediate priority is reuniting as a family and spending time together.
- The Chrisleys, known for their reality TV show "Chrisley Knows Best," received a pardon from President Donald Trump for their convictions in fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
- Interestingly, Savannah Chrisley, one of the couple's daughters, was reported to have met with the Trump family prior to the President's inauguration and was said to have advocated for their release.
- The Chrisleys' pardon draws mixed opinions within the legal community, with some questioning the rationale behind pardoning high-profile individuals, while others find Trump's decision justified.
