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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who are Todd and Julie Chrisley? What to know about the reality TV couple Trump just pardoned.
President Trump on Wednesday issued pardons for reality TV stars Julie and Todd Chrisley, three years after the couple was convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion. Hours later, Todd, 56, was released from a minimum-security prison camp in Florida, while Julie, 52, was able to leave the facility where she was being held in Kentucky. The couple's eldest daughter, Savannah Chrisley, 27, who has been advocating for her parents to be pardoned for the last two-and-a-half years, told reporters Wednesday: 'We just want to get home. We want to be reunited.' Trump had announced his intention to pardon the couple on Tuesday, telling media outlets that they had been 'given a pretty harsh treatment based on what I'm hearing.' That same day, the Chrisleys' attorney, Alex Little, told Anderson Cooper that the pardon 'corrects a deep injustice,' arguing that the couple had been 'targeted because of their conservative values and high profile.' Here's what we know about the Chrisleys and the crimes for which they were just pardoned. The couple is best known for starring on the reality TV series Chrisley Knows Best, which ran on the USA Network from 2014 to 2023. According to the synopsis on IMDb, the show 'follows Atlanta-based self-made multimillionaire Todd Chrisley, his devoted wife Julie and their five children, who live a seemingly picture-perfect Southern life with everything money can buy.' The show was initially filmed in Atlanta and later in Nashville. In 2019, the show inspired the spinoff Growing Up Chrisley, which ran on E! and starred the couple's eldest children, Chase and Savannah, living in Los Angeles. Todd also hosted a short-lived E! dating series called Love Limo, which premiered around the time of the couple's trial in May 2022. The couple was first indicted by a federal grand jury in Atlanta in 2019 for tax evasion, conspiracy and 12 counts of bank and wire fraud. The evasion charge was later dropped, but prosecutors accused the Chrisleys and their former accountant, Peter Tarantino, of submitting fake bank and financial statements to get loans from as early as 2007 until at least 2012. Prosecutors in the case said the couple had been committing offenses for years before they became famous, and that their show boosted evidence of their fraud and hiding of earnings from tax authorities, the Associated Press reported in 2022. Prosecutors claimed Tarantino helped the Chrisleys hide their income and told the IRS that the couple could not afford to pay a tax debt from 2009 despite the show's success. The Chrisleys and Tarantino were found guilty on all counts in June 2022 and began their sentences in January 2023. The couple was sentenced to a combined 19 years; Todd served at the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Fla., and was expected to be released in September 2032, while Julie was sent to the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Ky., until January 2028. Both Todd and Julie filed requests to appeal their cases in April 2024; Todd's request was denied in July 2024, and while Julie's appeal was granted due to insufficient evidence, the judge overseeing the case still upheld the original sentencing in December 2024. Tarantino, 62, was sentenced to three years in prison and spent 18 months in custody before being released in November 2024. He did not receive a pardon from Trump and, in response, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 'I think that the prosecution was overly aggressive in charging me. When there are high-profile people involved, there's a certain motivation by the prosecution to make as big a splash as possible.' The couple's attorney, Alex Little, said in an interview with NBC News that he did not know why the president chose to pardon his clients, but that he had supplied Trump's pardon czar, Alice Johnson, with a binder of court documents and testimonials. In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Johnson said she found the couple had been 'overly sentenced.' 'They both received a combined sentence of 19 years for a first-time nonviolent offense,' Johnson said. 'They don't pose a risk to society.' NBC also reported that Little said the Chrisleys did not attempt to seek pardons from former President Joe Biden. Instead, their daughter, Savannah, who endorsed Trump's candidacy in a speech at the Republican National Convention last July, started advocating for a presidential pardon when she met with some members of the Trump family before his inauguration. 'President Trump feels very focused on the issue of criminal justice because he has been a focus of investigations that were directed at him," Little said. "And he's treated it differently because of that.' White House communications adviser Margo Martin posted a video on X Monday showing Trump on the phone with Savannah. In it, he's heard saying, 'I don't know them, but send them my regards.' 'They were given a pretty harsh treatment based on what I'm hearing,' Trump continued. 'I hear they're terrific people. This should not have happened.' The Chrisleys were indicted under the authority of the then U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Byung J. Pak, who was appointed by Trump in 2017. Following her father's release on Wednesday, Savannah told reporters outside of the federal prison in Pensacola, Fla., that the family has a new show that will be premiering later this year on Lifetime. 'It will document all of these things,' Savannah said. 'We're excited. We literally could not have done it. It's all God and President Trump at this point.' Deadline reported last week that Lifetime had ordered the still-untitled series after Todd and Julie were sentenced in 2022. The show is set to premiere sometime later this year and will follow the Chrisley children in the aftermath of their parents' prison sentences.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who are Todd and Julie Chrisley? What to know about the reality TV couple Trump just pardoned.
President Trump on Wednesday issued pardons for reality TV stars Julie and Todd Chrisley, three years after the couple was convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion. Hours later, Todd, 56, was released from a minimum-security prison camp in Florida, while Julie, 52, was able to leave the facility where she was being held in Kentucky. The couple's eldest daughter, Savannah Chrisley, 27, who has been advocating for her parents to be pardoned for the last two-and-a-half years, told reporters Wednesday: 'We just want to get home. We want to be reunited.' Trump had announced his intention to pardon the couple on Tuesday, telling media outlets that they had been 'given a pretty harsh treatment based on what I'm hearing.' That same day, the Chrisleys' attorney, Alex Little, told Anderson Cooper that the pardon 'corrects a deep injustice,' arguing that the couple had been 'targeted because of their conservative values and high profile.' Here's what we know about the Chrisleys and the crimes for which they were just pardoned. The couple is best known for starring on the reality TV series Chrisley Knows Best, which ran on the USA Network from 2014 to 2023. According to the synopsis on IMDb, the show 'follows Atlanta-based self-made multimillionaire Todd Chrisley, his devoted wife Julie and their five children, who live a seemingly picture-perfect Southern life with everything money can buy.' The show was initially filmed in Atlanta and later in Nashville. In 2019, the show inspired the spinoff Growing Up Chrisley, which ran on E! and starred the couple's eldest children, Chase and Savannah, living in Los Angeles. Todd also hosted a short-lived E! dating series called Love Limo, which premiered around the time of the couple's trial in May 2022. The couple was first indicted by a federal grand jury in Atlanta in 2019 for tax evasion, conspiracy and 12 counts of bank and wire fraud. The evasion charge was later dropped, but prosecutors accused the Chrisleys and their former accountant, Peter Tarantino, of submitting fake bank and financial statements to get loans from as early as 2007 until at least 2012. Prosecutors in the case said the couple had been committing offenses for years before they became famous, and that their show boosted evidence of their fraud and hiding of earnings from tax authorities, the Associated Press reported in 2022. Prosecutors claimed Tarantino helped the Chrisleys hide their income and told the IRS that the couple could not afford to pay a tax debt from 2009 despite the show's success. The Chrisleys and Tarantino were found guilty on all counts in June 2022 and began their sentences in January 2023. The couple was sentenced to a combined 19 years; Todd served at the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Fla., and was expected to be released in September 2032, while Julie was sent to the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Ky., until January 2028. Both Todd and Julie filed requests to appeal their cases in April 2024; Todd's request was denied in July 2024, and while Julie's appeal was granted due to insufficient evidence, the judge overseeing the case still upheld the original sentencing in December 2024. Tarantino, 62, was sentenced to three years in prison and spent 18 months in custody before being released in November 2024. He did not receive a pardon from Trump and, in response, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 'I think that the prosecution was overly aggressive in charging me. When there are high-profile people involved, there's a certain motivation by the prosecution to make as big a splash as possible.' The couple's attorney, Alex Little, said in an interview with NBC News that he did not know why the president chose to pardon his clients, but that he had supplied Trump's pardon czar, Alice Johnson, with a binder of court documents and testimonials. In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Johnson said she found the couple had been 'overly sentenced.' 'They both received a combined sentence of 19 years for a first-time nonviolent offense,' Johnson said. 'They don't pose a risk to society.' NBC also reported that Little said the Chrisleys did not attempt to seek pardons from former President Joe Biden. Instead, their daughter, Savannah, who endorsed Trump's candidacy in a speech at the Republican National Convention last July, started advocating for a presidential pardon when she met with some members of the Trump family before his inauguration. 'President Trump feels very focused on the issue of criminal justice because he has been a focus of investigations that were directed at him," Little said. "And he's treated it differently because of that.' White House communications adviser Margo Martin posted a video on X Monday showing Trump on the phone with Savannah. In it, he's heard saying, 'I don't know them, but send them my regards.' 'They were given a pretty harsh treatment based on what I'm hearing,' Trump continued. 'I hear they're terrific people. This should not have happened.' The Chrisleys were indicted under the authority of the then U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Byung J. Pak, who was appointed by Trump in 2017. BREAKING!President Trump calls @_ItsSavannah_ to inform her that he will be granting full pardons to her parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley! Trump Knows Best! — Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) May 27, 2025 Following her father's release on Wednesday, Savannah told reporters outside of the federal prison in Pensacola, Fla., that the family has a new show that will be premiering later this year on Lifetime. 'It will document all of these things,' Savannah said. 'We're excited. We literally could not have done it. It's all God and President Trump at this point.' Deadline reported last week that Lifetime had ordered the still-untitled series after Todd and Julie were sentenced in 2022. The show is set to premiere sometime later this year and will follow the Chrisley children in the aftermath of their parents' prison sentences.
2 days ago
- Entertainment
Todd and Julie Chrisley to return to reality TV following pardon
Todd and Julie Chrisley will return to the limelight on reality TV following their release from prison after a pardon from President Donald Trump. The Chrisleys' daughter, Savannah Chrisley, confirmed to reporters Wednesday as she waited for her dad's release at the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Florida, that the family has a new reality series in the works with Lifetime. "We have a new show coming out on Lifetime, and it will document all of these things," Savannah Chrisley said. "And we're excited. We literally could not have done it. It's all God and President Trump at this point." Lifetime also confirmed earlier this month that a new docuseries is in the works and will be released later this year. "In the wake of the family's controversy and upheaval with their parents sentenced to time in federal prison for bank fraud and tax evasion, the Chrisley Family is now pulling back the curtain and offering unprecedented access to their lives in a deeply personal and dramatic new series," the network said in a May 21 statement. The Chrisley family rose to fame with their reality TV show "Chrisley Knows Best," which aired on USA Network for nearly a decade. The show followed the lavish lives of Todd Chrisley -- a real estate developer -- his wife Julie Chrisley, and their combined five children and one grandchild. In addition to Savannah Chrisley, Todd and Julie Chrisley are the parents of Chase Chrisley and Grayson Chrisley. Todd and Julie Chrisley also care for Kyle Chrisley's young daughter Chloe. While starring on "Chrisley Knows Best," Chase Chrisley and Savannah Chrisley also starred in a spinoff series, "Growing Up Chrisley," which aired from 2019 to 2022. "Chrisley Knows Best" ended in March 2023, around five months after Todd and Julie Chrisley were sentenced in November 2022 to a combined 19 years in prison on charges including fraud and tax evasion. Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in prison and 16 months of probation, while Julie Chrisley was ordered to serve seven years in prison and 16 months of probation. The couple was also ordered to pay $17.8 million in restitution. The charges against the Chrisleys stem from activity that occurred at least as early as 2007, when the couple allegedly provided false information to banks and fabricated bank statements when applying for and receiving million of dollars in loans, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. In 2014, two years after the alleged bank fraud scheme ended, the couple is accused of fabricating bank statements and a credit report that had "been physically cut and taped or glued together when applying for and obtaining a lease for a home in California." The couple later filed an appeal to review their case. In a 2024 ruling from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Julie Chrisley's case was sent back to the lower court for resentencing. The judges upheld the convictions of Todd Chrisley and the couple's accountant, Peter Tarantino. Savannah Chrisley -- who had appealed to the Trump administration for pardons for her parents and spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention -- was informed of her parents' pardon on May 27 in a phone call with Trump, according to a video shared on X by a White House communications adviser. In the video, Trump describes Todd and Julie Chrisley as having received "harsh treatment." Savannah Chrisley told ABC News that she received the phone call "totally out of the blue." "I kind of had gotten to a place where I had lost hope, and just felt like nothing was going in my favor," she said. "And then I got the call."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Photos of Todd and Julie Chrisley, reality stars pardoned by Trump and released from prison
Todd and Julie Chrisley are both officially out of prison after President Donald Trump signed off on a full pardon May 28. The embattled reality TV stars, who shot to fame thanks to their hit show "According to Chrisley," received a full pardon for their convictions of tax evasion and fraud. Todd Chrisley was released from a federal prison in Pensacola and Julie Chrisley was released an hour later from federal custody in Lexington, Kentucky. In an X post May 27 from spokesperson Margo Martin, Trump called the Chrisleys' daughter Savannah Chrisley to share the news of the impending release. "It's a great thing because your parents are going to be free and clean and I hope we can do it by tomorrow," Trump told the reality TV star and influencer, seated as his "pardon czar" Alice Marie Johnson stood next to him. It's a sweeping change of life for the Chrisley family. Savannah Chrisley has used several platforms to discuss freeing parents Todd and Julie Chrisley. Julie Chrisley was serving time at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, with Todd Chrisley at FPC Pensacola in Florida. For years, the couple portrayed themselves as real estate tycoons on the USA Network docuseries "Chrisley Knows Best.' Years later, they had their assets frozen and were each convicted of bank fraud. 'Chrisley Knows Best' documented the Chrisleys' lavish lifestyle in Atlanta and Nashville. The show drew in more than 2 million viewers by its eighth season and inspired spinoffs such as "Growing Up Chrisley" and "According to Chrisley." But on Jan. 17, 2023, the Chrisleys traded their luxurious lifestyle for prison time, turning themselves in to their respective prisons. Prosecutors said the reality TV couple was driven by greed as they engaged in an extensive bank fraud scheme and then hid their wealth from tax authorities. Below are photos of Todd and Julie Chrisley and what to know about the reality stars. Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley are in prison for tax evasion and defrauding more than $30 million out of community banks in fraudulent loans. Julie Chrisley was also found guilty and convicted of obstruction of justice and wire fraud. Reality stars behind bars: Todd and Julie Chrisley released from prison. 'Real Housewives,' 'Basketball Wives' stars serving time In 2022, Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while Julie Chrisley was sentenced to seven years. They turned themselves in to prison in January 2023, and have already served about two and a half years of their respective sentences. On May 28, 2025, Todd and Julie Chrisley were pardoned by President Donald Trump and released from custody. On May 27, Trump told the pair's daughter Savannah Chrisley that he hoped he could get the couple out of prison "by tomorrow." 'Is that OK? We'll try getting it done tomorrow. I don't know them but give them my regards. Wish them a good life," Trump said on video. The next day, Todd and Julie Chrisley were released from federal custody. Todd Chrisley, who was held at FPC Pensacola, was set for release two years earlier than his original sentence on June 11, 2032, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons records. Julie Chrisley, who was held at FMC Lexington in Kentucky, had her sentence reduced by 14 months and was set for release March 23, 2028. Contributing: Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, and Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Julie and Todd Chrisley pardoned by Trump, released from prison
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Todd Chrisley, Julie Chrisley released from prison after Trump pardon
The family's legal representative said in a statement that both Chrisleys are on the "way home to Nashville." Earlier in the day, the president signed paperwork granting full pardons to the "Chrisley Knows Best" stars, a White House official confirmed to USA TODAY. The couple, who documented their family life on USA Network reality shows, had been in prison since January 2023, serving up to 10 years for using fraudulent loans to defraud community banks in Georgia. Their 2022 conviction also found them guilty of defrauding the IRS and committing tax evasion; Julie Chrisley was additionally convicted of obstruction of justice and wire fraud. On May 27, Trump called the Chrisleys' middle daughter, Savannah Chrisley, to let her know her parents were "going to be free and clean, and I hope we can do it by tomorrow." Savannah, who spoke at the Republican National Convention in July and has actively championed her parents' release, celebrated the news in a video she posted to Instagram May 27 and announced she was preparing for their return. "We're getting some clothes together for mom and dad, getting their room put together upstairs, and I'm just speechless. I can't thank you guys enough for sticking with my family along the way and for loving us and supporting us," she said. "My parents get to start their lives over," she continued. "President Trump didn't just commute their sentences. He gave them a full, unconditional, pardon. So for that I am forever grateful." 'He keeps his word' Chrisley family reacts to Trump pardon How long were the Chrisleys in prison? Julie Chrisley, 52, has been serving her seven-year prison sentence at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Her most recent release date prior to the pardon was slated for January 2028. Todd Chrisley has been serving time at FPC Pensacola and was expected to be released April 7, 2032. "Chrisley Knows Best" aired on USA Network for 10 seasons, from 2014 through 2023. "Growing Up Chrisley," a spin-off featuring the couple's adult children, Chase and Savannah Chrisley, went on for four seasons after its 2019 premiere. Joe Exotic also seeking pardon from Donald Trump Amid the Todd and Julie Chrisley's pardon from Trump, reality TV star Joe Exotic, who's currently in prison, is wondering why the president isn't returning his calls. "Donald J. Trump please restore freedom for Joe Exotic so he can go back to doing good in the world," the former businessman shared on his X account. "Joe Exotic did not hurt anyone. Joe Exotic did not pay anyone. Joe Exotic had no plans to hurt anyone. Joe Exotic has suffered seven years behind bars being isolated, abused, and treated in ways no American should ever endure." More: 'Tiger King' star Joe Exotic is married: 'Meet my husband' Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also shared a press release that further expressed his disappointment. "I have never been more disappointed in my life that President Trump is pardoning all of these people that have actually committed crimes and yet the President leaves me in here as an innocent man," read the statement.
