Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced pardons for Todd and Julie Chrisley, stars of the reality TV show Chrisley Knows Best, who were convicted in 2022 for their roles in a $36 million fraud and tax evasion scheme.
The couple, known for depicting their affluent lifestyle as property moguls in Nashville and Atlanta, were found guilty of defrauding banks and evading taxes. Todd Chrisley is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence, while Julie Chrisley received seven years. Their accountant, Peter Tarantino, was sentenced to three years.
In a video circulated by White House aide Margo Martin, Trump was seen speaking by phone with the Chrisleys’ children, promising their parents would be "free and clean" soon. “I don’t know them but give them my regards, and wish them a good life,” Trump said.
This development follows public statements by Savannah Chrisley, the couple's daughter and a vocal supporter of Trump. In a recent Fox News interview, she described her parents' convictions as politically motivated and likened their legal struggles to Trump’s own challenges. Savannah, who has positioned herself as a prison reform advocate, alleged that the prosecutors involved were affiliated with the Democratic Party.
Prosecutors established that the Chrisleys secured loans through falsified documents to support their extravagant lifestyle, which included luxury vehicles, designer apparel, and real estate investments. The couple later filed for bankruptcy and concealed income from their television production to evade approximately $500,000 in taxes.
This pardon marks the second recent clemency action by Trump, who also pardoned former Virginia sheriff Scott Jenkins, convicted for accepting bribes to appoint unqualified individuals as law enforcement officers. Jenkins was sentenced to 10 years behind bars and has been a long-time Trump ally.
