Trump Pardons Reality TV Chrisleys of Fraud, Tax Convictions/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump announced he intends to pardon reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, convicted in 2022 for fraud and tax evasion. The couple was sentenced to a combined 19 years in prison for defrauding banks and hiding income. Trump cited harsh treatment and political bias as reasons for their pardon.
Trump Pardons Chrisley Couple: Quick Looks
- Trump Announces Intent to Pardon Chrisleys: Reality stars convicted of $30M bank fraud
- Convictions From 2022: Couple sentenced to 12 and 7 years respectively
- Lavish Lifestyle Evidence: Prosecutors cited luxury cars, real estate, travel
- $17.8 Million Restitution: Chrisleys also ordered to repay millions
- Trump Calls Treatment ‘Harsh’: Made comments in call with daughter Savannah
- Savannah Chrisley’s Political Support: Spoke at 2024 RNC defending family
- Lawyer Alleges Political Targeting: Cites conservative values as motivation for prosecution
- Pattern of Pardons: Trump also recently pardoned sheriff, health exec, GOP official
Trump Pardons Reality TV Todd, Julie Chrisley of Fraud, Tax Convictions
Deep Look
Trump to Pardon Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley Over Fraud Convictions
Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he plans to issue pardons for reality television stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion in 2022. The couple, who starred in the reality series Chrisley Knows Best, have become symbols of Trump’s ongoing efforts to challenge what he calls the politicization of the American justice system.
“Your parents are going to be free and clean and I hope that we can do it by tomorrow,” Trump told the couple’s daughter, Savannah Chrisley, in a video shared online by a White House aide.
The Chrisleys were convicted of conspiring to defraud Atlanta-area banks out of more than $30 million by using falsified documents to secure loans. Prosecutors said the couple used the funds to maintain a luxurious lifestyle that included luxury vehicles, designer fashion, and high-end real estate—all while failing to pay taxes and concealing earnings.
Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Julie Chrisley to seven. They were also ordered to pay $17.8 million in restitution. Trump has described their treatment as overly harsh, and in a post on social media, his aide quipped, “Trump Knows Best.”
Pardon Fits Trump’s Pattern
A White House official confirmed anonymously that the pardon process is moving forward and could be finalized soon. The move aligns with Trump’s broader pattern of granting clemency to high-profile supporters and figures aligned with his political messaging.
Just this week, Trump also pardoned former Virginia sheriff Scott Jenkins, who had been sentenced to a decade in prison for bribery and fraud. That pardon followed similar clemency decisions for health care executive Paul Walczak and Nevada Republican Michele Fiore.
These actions come amid Trump’s intensified claims that the Biden-era Department of Justice was politically weaponized, targeting conservative figures and allies with disproportionate prosecutions.
Chrisleys Portrayed as Conservative Victims
The Chrisleys’ attorney, Alex Little, welcomed the news, claiming the pardon “corrects a deep injustice” and saying the couple was targeted due to their conservative beliefs and public profile.
“President Trump recognized what we’ve argued from the beginning: Todd and Julie were targeted because of their conservative values and high profile,” Little said.
Savannah Chrisley, who has become an outspoken critic of the justice system and vocal Trump supporter, also addressed her parents’ legal troubles during a speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention. In her speech, she claimed prosecutors had referred to the family as “the Trumps of the South” during their trial—an insult she said she took as a badge of honor.
Legal Controversies Surround Case
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the couple’s convictions last year, but it did order a resentencing for Julie Chrisley due to legal errors in the original trial judge’s calculation of her sentence. The court found she may not have been responsible for the full scope of the financial fraud committed.
During the original proceedings, prosecutors argued that the Chrisleys continually used new fraudulent loans to pay off older ones and had no intention of repayment. At one point, Todd Chrisley declared bankruptcy, leaving more than $20 million in unpaid loans.
Despite their conviction, the family continues to maintain that they were victims of political persecution and that their treatment would have been different had they not been public conservatives.
Moving Forward
The exact timing of the pardons remains unclear, but it is expected soon. The Chrisleys are among the latest in a growing list of Trump-era clemency recipients, and their release will undoubtedly reignite debates over the fairness and consistency of presidential pardon powers.
Supporters hail the move as justice for an overzealous prosecution, while critics argue it’s another example of Trump using clemency as a political weapon.
