U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to pardon reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted in 2022 on federal charges including tax evasion and bank fraud.
The couple rose to fame through their show Chrisley Knows Best, which chronicled their affluent lifestyle. Authorities say the Chrisleys submitted falsified documents to secure over $US30 million (approximately $46.6 million AUD) in loans from banks in the Atlanta, Georgia region, and then evaded taxes while flaunting a life of luxury involving expensive cars, designer fashion, real estate, and travel.
Prosecutors said Todd Chrisley later declared bankruptcy, leaving behind more than $20 million in unpaid debt. Julie Chrisley received a seven-year federal prison sentence, while Todd was sentenced to 12 years. They were also ordered to pay $17.8 million in restitution.
In a video shared by a White House aide, Trump is seen informing the couple’s daughter, Savannah Chrisley, by phone that her parents would soon be “free and clean.” He expressed hope that the pardons could be finalized “by tomorrow,” adding that the couple had received “pretty harsh treatment.”
A White House official, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, confirmed that the pardons were imminent.
The decision is part of a broader pattern in Trump’s presidency of granting pardons to high-profile allies, donors, and supporters. On Monday, Trump also pardoned Scott Jenkins, a former sheriff from Virginia convicted of fraud and bribery. Trump criticized the prosecution on social media, blaming the “Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ.”
Alex Little, attorney for the Chrisleys, welcomed the news, describing the pardons as correcting “a deep injustice” and reuniting the couple with their family. He claimed the prosecution was politically motivated and marred by constitutional violations, asserting that their case highlighted the purpose of presidential pardon powers.
Before their rise to fame, the Chrisleys and a business associate submitted fraudulent loan applications to banks. Prosecutors alleged they used these funds to support their extravagant spending habits, repaying previous debts with new illegitimate loans.
While the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld their convictions, it ruled there was an error in how Julie Chrisley’s sentence was calculated. Her case has been returned to a lower court for resentencing.
Savannah Chrisley, who has publicly supported Trump, spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention, arguing that her parents were victims of political persecution. She echoed Trump’s critiques of the justice system and shared a remark from a prosecutor who allegedly called the family the “Trumps of the South” — a comment she said she now embraces proudly.
