Todd Chrisley and his wife Julie have been set free following President Trump's grant of pardon.
Todd and Julie Chrisley, reality television personalities, were granted clemency by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the matter. They were released from federal custody the following day, after serving time for tax evasion and bank fraud convictions.
The announcement followed Trump's communications adviser confirming his intention to pardon the couple. The official pardon was effective on Thursday, a day after the announcement.
Savannah Chrisley, the couple's daughter, shared an image on Instagram that appeared to show President Trump signing the pardon documents. This was later confirmed by a White House official.
In her Instagram post, Savannah stated that Trump himself had called her to inform her that he was signing pardon paperwork for both of her parents.
Savannah Chrisley had previously appealed for pardons for her parents at the 2024 Republican National Convention, and she expressed gratitude towards the president for their release. Her brother Chase and sister Chloe also expressed their thanks.
A tearful Savannah awaited her father's release outside a federal prison camp in Pensacola, Florida, on Wednesday evening. She had been at the location since early morning, unprepared with clothing or personal items.
The Chrisleys, famous for their show "Chrisley Knows Best," were sentenced in November 2022 to a combined 19 years in prison, with additional probation and a $17.8 million restitution order. They had become embroiled in a case involving alleged bank fraud and fabricated financial documents as early as 2007[1][2].
Prosecutors described the Chrisleys' actions as part of a "fifteen-year fraud spree" in their sentencing memo[1]. However, the couple's daughter's persistent appeals suggested political motivations behind their convictions, potentially influencing the pardon decision.
Following their release, the Chrisley family is expected to reunite and is planning a new reality series with Lifetime[3].
[1] U.S. Attorney's Office: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/chrisley-knows-best-stars-todd-and-julie-chrisley-sentenced-19-years-prison-charges[2] CNN (November 18, 2022): https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/18/entertainment/todd-julie-chrisley-guilty-fraud/index.html[3] Entertainment Weekly (May 27, 2025): https://ew.com/tv/chrisley-knows-best-new-season-2025/
- The granting of clemency to Todd and Julie Chrisley, reality television personalities convicted of tax evasion and bank fraud, was shown in a video shared by their daughter Savannah on Instagram, which apparently depicted President Trump signing the pardon documents.
- The pardon decision for the Chrisleys, who became famous for their show "Chrisley Knows Best," was possibly influenced by the persistent appeals made by their daughter Savannah, who made a plea for pardons at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
- In the world of entertainment and lifestyle, the Chrisleys' pardon and impending reunited family life are now becoming a part of pop-culture discourse, while also involving elements of politics and policy-and-legislation.
- As part of their new beginnings, the Chrisley family has announced plans for a new reality series with Lifetime, which promises to bring more insight into their lives following their release from federal custody.
- A key focus of the upcoming series might be the impact of their lengthy legal battle, which began with allegations of bank fraud and fabricated financial documents as early as 2007, on their family lifestyle, as well as the political Forums they engaged with during the appeals process.
