Jailbird Julie Chrisley claims prison asbestos sparked shocking health battle
Julie, 52, and her husband Todd Chrisley, 56, were both released from prison earlier this year following a pardon from President Trump, and are now reflecting on incarcerations on their new podcast, Chrisley Confessions 2.0.
Despite now being back in society, Julie says her time in prison has continued to plague her.
Julie, who was serving out her sentence at FMC Lexington, Kentucky after she and Todd were convicted in 2022 for orchestrating a $30 million bank fraud and tax evasion scheme, says she developed a 'lung condition' due to an alleged asbestos problem at the facility.
'I have a lung condition from being in prison,' she told her husband on their podcast, alleging it was caused by 'asbestos.'
Todd, who was imprisoned at a facility in Florida, added his wife incurred the condition due to the 'black mold that you were around.'
'You will probably notice me at certain times trying to get like a breath,' Julie said.
'That's something that we're having to address right now,' Todd said. 'Because now this week.. you have a doctor's appointment with a pulmonary specialist that's gonna do some tests on you.'
In response to Julie's health claims, the Federal Bureau of Prisons told Daily Mail that they were unable to comment on any particular inmate but stated the 'humane treatment' of those in their custody was a top priority.
'For privacy, safety, and security reasons, we do not comment on the conditions of confinement for any incarcerated individual or previously incarcerated individual. However, we can provide the following information,' Benjamin O'Cone of Federal Bureau of Prisons' Office of Public Affairs said in an email.
'It is the mission of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to operate facilities that are safe, secure, and humane.
'We take seriously our duty to protect the individuals entrusted in our custody, as well as maintaining the safety of our employees and the community. Humane treatment of the men and women in our custody is a top priority.'
Julie previously said she developed asthma during her 28 months behind bars.
'I could see my health deteriorating,' she told ABC News last month.
Todd and Julie were jailed in 2023 after being found guilty of 12 counts of tax evasion and fraud with Todd sentenced to 12 years behind bars and Julie ordered to serve seven.
However in May they were freed after being pardoned by Trump.
The couple's daughter Savannah said she cried when Trump was elected US President as it gave her hope her parents would be released from prison.
Speaking on Fox News Channel's My View with Lara Trump, she said: 'Grayson [Savannah's brother] and I watched the election together, and he got to vote in the election for the first time. And when we were watching it and we saw the president win, we both started sobbing. And he just grabbed me and hugged me because we knew that was our only way out.'
Todd spoke about watching the election in prison, saying: 'We were all glued to the television. When they finally announced that he was the winner, everyone there started screaming and yelling because they knew, they felt in their spirit that if President Trump wins this election, there's hope for all of us.'
Savannah Chrisley, Todd and Julie's daughter, said she cried when Donald Trump was elected US President as it gave her hope her parents would be released from prison; pictured 2024
Savannah also revealed the 79-year-old president called her to tell her about his plans for her parents.
She said: 'He was like, "How are you?" I was like, well, in the wise words of you fighting like hell. And I was like, I probably shouldn't have said that to the president, but it is President Trump. A big thing was he asked Alice Johnson, "Is this a commutation? Or is this a full pardon?" And she said, "As of now, it's just a commutation." He goes, "Nope, Nope. We're going to give them a full pardon. These people get their lives back." And I was just in such shock.'
Julie shared about the moment she found out about her pardon, saying: 'I called Savannah one more time, and she said, "He did it, he signed it".
'And I just started busting out crying. And everyone was looking around, and then I just hung up. I was so nervous, I just hung up.'
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A few months ago, something changed. One minute, people were trudging along as usual; the next it seemed like every third person I passed on the street was wearing a weird, heavy little backpack. Initially, I mistook several of these bulky, menacing items for bulletproof vests. (Scary.) Eventually, I realized they were simply the latest fitness trend: weighted vests. Celebrities have been sporting them on walks, Peloton instructors are making videos explaining how to use them, and influencers are peddling them on TikTok. Publications have written about their growing popularity among 'the menopause set', as Allure put it, because of their supposed ability to help with muscle strength and bone density as one ages. 'It really has gotten so much attention lately,' says Dr Elaina Manolis, a physical therapist and clinical professor at Northeastern University. The practice used to be called 'rucking', she notes, because people would walk with heavy rucksacks. One reason for this spike is that the vests don't look so much like bulky backpacks anymore, Manolis suspects: 'They're sleek and cute,' she says. She also believes it's part of a bigger societal trend. 'Culture has shifted so much for the positive in women's health, and in understanding the importance of strength training and bone density,' she says. So are weighted vests the miracle workout upgrade some claim? I tried one for two weeks, and asked experts for advice. They are vests that are weighed down with iron sand or small weights. 'They can be thought of as 'hyper-gravity',' says Dr Abbi Lane, assistant professor of applied exercise science at the University of Michigan. 'They add a little bit more weight and resistance.' Typically, they weigh anywhere from five to 30lbs (2.26 to 13.6kg), and are worn across the shoulders and upper torso. Some are small, with straps across the chest. Others are bigger, cover most of the torso and look disconcertingly like bulletproof vests. 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Manolis recommends wearing a vest when walking – which she calls 'a very underrated exercise as it is' – because you are in an upright posture and the potential for injury is much lower. If you are confident in the vest, you can also use it for 'light aerobics, strength training and even short bouts of running', says Haver. Make sure your joints can tolerate the load though. Start by wearing the vest for a short period of time, then build up. 'Aim for 20-30 minutes a day, and listen to your body,' says Haver. Twice a week, for two weeks, I wore my vest for my current favorite physical activity: walking on the treadmill in the air conditioned gym while watching Vera on my iPad. When I first strapped it on, the vest felt heavy but oddly comforting – like a thunder shirt for dogs. As I started walking, I was surprised by how off-balance I felt. It took me a few minutes to find my stride, and holding myself upright and centered required more core strength than I had expected. 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And if you ever feel discomfort, stop. 'Don't push through pain,' she warns. I've worn my weighted vest a few more times since my two-week trial. I don't love how sweaty it makes me. I'm also not sure about the best way to clean it as the manufacturer didn't provide any instructions. (I've been using cleaning wipes – please don't tell me if this is wrong.) But it is a nice way to add some difficulty and novelty to my Vera walks. Still, I don't think it's going to become a staple in my routine. I strength train several times a week, and a set of heavy squats feels like a more effective, challenging and satisfying way of strengthening my legs and bones than walking with 16lbs of extra weight. I did enjoy that it made me look like an action movie hero though. When I asked my partner how I looked in it, he responded: 'Tactical.' That's way cooler than my usual gym look: sweaty 30-something woman in a Rainforest Cafe T-shirt.
