Latest news with #Chrisleys
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Chrisleys spun a tale of unjust witch hunts. Reality TV fans know the truth.
Donald Trump has been called a 'reality television president' so many times by his detractors (or the detractors of reality television), it no longer feels clever. Or even much of an insult. Still he appears to be doubling down on that reputation after pardoning Todd and Julie Chrisley, the stars of the long-running and shockingly popular USA Network reality show 'Chrisley Knows Best.' (USA Network is owned by NBCUniversal, MSNBC's parent company.) The couple's lawyer, Alex Little, in material he prepared for the Justice Department asking for a pardon, said their conviction 'exemplifies the weaponization of justice against conservatives and public figures, eroding basic constitutional protections.' While Little would disagree, I don't think we're looking at a witch hunt here. Indeed, as any scholar of the reality television arts and sciences will tell you, the Chrisleys are actually late to a well-established trend. 'Chrisley Knows Best' centered around Todd Chrisley, a 'flamboyant' Southern real-estate mogul who was always hounding his children and freaking out when things didn't go his way. The producers were clearly working to create a sitcomlike vibe, but less in the mold of 'Friends' and more like the old three-camera series starring men such as Jim Belushi or Kevin James as underappreciated, breadwinning heroes with inexplicably hot wives. The show ran from 2014 to 2023 and also included a separate spinoff on E! (E! is also owned by NBCUniversal.) It only ceased production because the principal characters became indisposed, and by 'indisposed' I mean that they were sent to prison. The Chrisleys, unlike their sitcom counterparts, were conspicuously wealthy rather than working class. The proud owner of a very American McMansion, they made most of their money buying, selling and flipping similar homes in suburban environments in Southern states. The lavish lifestyle, however, was not entirely legitimate. In 2022, Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Julie to seven for their involvement in a tax and mortgage fraud scheme that predates the premiere of their show in 2014. The show itself made them plenty of money, and the couple was also convicted of trying to hide that income from the IRS and skipping out on nearly $500,000 in back taxes. (Julie's conviction was vacated on appeal in 2024 after a judge decided prosecutors did not tie her specifically to the very first year of the bank-fraud scheme.) Prosecutors proved the couple had bilked Atlanta-area banks out of $36 million by applying for mortgages with fake documents, not repaying loans, and taking out false loans just to repay the old false loans. They used that money on a classic reality TV smorgasbord — designer clothes, exotic cars and flashy trips. But the self-made element of their wealth was always an important part of their brand. The other part of Todd's brand is flamboyance. His love of fashion and Botox has long made him the subject of rumors about his sexual orientation — rumors that he always shut down. His affect is sort of like if Snagglepuss and Charles Nelson Riley had a gay child through surrogacy. It was always a weird conceit that seemed to contrast with the show's more traditional 'family values' themes and fan base. Indeed, leveraging that conservative base and deploying the Trumpian language of victimhood that may have helped secure the Chrisleys their pardon. It's no coincidence that Savannah Chrisley, the couple's daughter who is featured prominently in the show, argued in prime time last summer at the Republican National Convention that her family was targeted by 'rogue prosecutors.' In reality TV fashion, the truth is less exciting. Reality television attracts extreme personalities because that is what pops on camera and connects with fans. Extreme personalities do extreme things — and that sometimes means breaking the law. The television age we're currently experiencing was arguably ushered in by the runaway success of 'Survivor' in the summer of 2000. Richard Hatch, who is gay, took home the inaugural $1 million prize. In 2006, Hatch was sentenced to 51 months in prison for not declaring his winnings to the IRS. Post prison, he appeared on 'Celebrity Apprentice.' 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star Teresa Giudice was also on 'Celebrity Apprentice' in 2012 — only to be fired by Trump himself. Like the Chrisleys, she and her husband, Joe, were known for spending money freely, including dropping $120,000 on furniture in the show's pilot episode. Teresa paid in cash. In 2013, she and Joe pled guilty to mail, wire and bank fraud for taking out loans with fraudulent documents, also much like the Chrisleys. Teresa got 15 months in prison (but only served 11) and Joe served 41 months. Since the Italian-born Joe never became a naturalized citizen, he was scheduled to be deported in 2019 during Trump's first term. Teresa and Joe said they never formally asked for a pardon from the then-president, the couple's eldest daughter, Gia Giudice, set up a petition to 'request that our President, Donald J Trump review our petition and pardon my father.' The pardon never came. While Trump might have some sympathy for people who commit loan fraud, after all, a New York judge did find Trump and the Trump Organization had committed civil fraud. But he shows very little leniency for illegal immigrants. In 2022, 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' star Jen Shah pleaded guilty to wire fraud and is serving out a 6½ year sentence, though it's been repeatedly shortened. The estranged husband of 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star Erika Jayne was convicted of fraud last summer. (She has not been accused of any involvement in the fraud and denies all wrongdoing.) Peter Thomas, who was on 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' when he was married to star Cynthia Bailey, just pleaded guilty to not paying his taxes. But Trump likely guessed he could use the Chrisleys and their story unlike, say, Jen Shah's tale of woe. This pardon sends a message to MAGA world: Yes, the deep state is out to get you and other hard-working, God-fearing Americans. Or at least it was under President Joe Biden. And the only person who can stop the injustice is President Donald J. Trump. With a swipe of his overworked pen, Trump not only freed Todd and Julie — he might have also gotten their show back on the air. This narrative, like so many of the canned storylines on 'Chrisley Knows Best' is an illusion. Not that it matters to Trump's fans. There's no nefarious plot here; that would be more interesting. Law enforcement agents aren't targeting reality TV stars, they're just following the evidence. And sometimes that evidence is beamed directly into millions of homes across America. This article was originally published on
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Why were Todd and Julie Chrisley imprisoned? Reality TV stars released after Presidential Pardon confirmed
Todd and Julie Chrisley were released from prison on 28 May 2025 after receiving a full pardon from President Donald Trump. The couple, known for their reality show Chrisley Knows Best, had been convicted in 2022 for conspiring to defraud banks out of over $30 million and for tax evasion. Prosecutors accused the Chrisleys of submitting false documents to secure fraudulent loans, then using the funds to maintain a lavish lifestyle that included luxury cars, designer goods and high-end travel. Todd later declared bankruptcy, leaving over $20 million in loans unpaid. Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Julie to 7 years, along with an order to repay $17.8 million in restitution. A U.S. appeals court later sent Julie's case back for resentencing due to a legal error in how her sentence was calculated. Trump's pardon followed a call with daughter Savannah Chrisley, where he stated, 'Your parents are going to be free and clean and I hope that we can do it by tomorrow.' Savannah previously addressed the Republican National Convention, claiming her parents were targeted due to their conservative values. Attorney Alex Little welcomed the pardon, saying it 'corrects a deep injustice' and enables the family to rebuild. The Chrisleys now join a list of high-profile individuals granted clemency by Trump, as part of what he describes as correcting politically motivated prosecutions.
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
What to know about reality TV stars Julie and Todd Chrisley, who were pardoned by Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — Reality TV stars Julie and Todd Chrisley, who were in prison after being convicted on federal charges of bank fraud and tax evasion, were pardoned by President Donald Trump and walked free Wednesday. The couple is best known for the long-running TV series 'Chrisley Knows Best,' which followed their family and luxurious lifestyle — which prosecutors said was boosted by bank fraud and hiding earnings from tax authorities. The Chrisleys were convicted in 2022 of conspiring to defraud banks in the Atlanta area out of more than $30 million in loans by submitting false documents. The pardons signed Wednesday are the latest example of Trump, himself a former reality TV star, pardoning high-profile friends, supporters, donors and former staffers. Here are some things to know about the Chrisleys: How they rose to fame 'Chrisley Knows Best,' which ran from 2014 to 2023, chronicled the extravagant exploits of the boisterous, tightly knit family of the couple and their five children, from high-end cars to luxury vacations to stunning mansions. It was recorded in the Atlanta area at first and then in Nashville. In 2019 the show spawned the spinoff 'Growing Up Chrisley,' which featured the couple's children Chase and Savannah living in Los Angeles. The couple's 2022 trial started just after E! announced that it was moving forward with a new dating series, 'Love Limo,' hosted by Todd Chrisley. It also came soon after USA announced the renwal of 'Chrisley Knows Best' for a 10th season, while its spinoff was renewed by E! for a fourth season. Why they were imprisoned The Chrisleys were found guilty in 2022 in Atlanta on the fraud and tax charges. Until this Wednesday they still had years left on their sentences: Julie Chrisley was expected to be released in 2028, and Todd Chrisley in 2032. At trial prosecutors detailed a laundry list of offenses that started before they became famous. The Chrisleys and a former business partner submitted false documents to banks to obtain fraudulent loans and then used new loans to pay off the old ones, prosecutors said. The couple was accused of spending lavishly on cars, designer clothes, real estate and travel. Todd Chrisley filed for bankruptcy, walking away from more than $20 million in unpaid loans, according to prosecutors. Meanwhile Julie Chrisley created false financial documents to rent a home in Los Angeles, they said, but then the couple did not pay rent on it. Once they were starring in the reality show, they operated a company that collected their income from the series and other ventures and kept the corporate bank accounts in Julie Chrisley's name to avoid collection of half a million dollars in back taxes that Todd Chrisley owed, prosecutors said. When the IRS asked for information on the accounts, they transferred ownership to Todd Chrisley's mother to try to hide his income further, according to authorities. Prosecutors also accused the couple of not filing or paying taxes for several years The Chrisleys' lawyers argued that an IRS officer gave false testimony at trial and that prosecutors lacked evidence to support convictions. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld their convictions last year. Their daughter's work to free them Savannah Chrisley has been a staunch Trump supporter and endorsed his candidacy while also speaking about her parents in a speech at the Republican National Convention last summer. 'My family was persecuted by rogue prosecutors and Fulton County due to our public profile ... and conservative beliefs,' she said at the time. She has called the case against her parents politically motivated, though they were indicted in 2019 under a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney, Byung J. 'BJay' Pak. In a social media post Wednesday, she praised U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, the Justice Department lawyer assigned to advise Trump on pardons and commutations. 'Your leadership is already changing countless lives — including mine,' she said on the social platform X. 'Thank you for standing boldly for truth, for justice, and for reuniting families like mine.' What happens next? Todd Chrisley was released from a minimum security prison camp in Pensacola, Florida, in the evening, according to Shannen Sharpe, a spokesperson for his attorney, and Julie Chrisley left a facility in Lexington, Kentucky, Sharpe said. As Savannah Chrisley waited to meet her father at his prison, she said the family was planning to do a lot of catching up. 'We're going to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, Christmases, all the things,' she said, 'because we're going to make up for the lost time.' Trump said the celebrity couple had been 'given a pretty harsh treatment based on what I'm hearing.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What to know about reality TV stars Julie and Todd Chrisley, who were pardoned by Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — Reality TV stars Julie and Todd Chrisley, who were in prison after being convicted on federal charges of bank fraud and tax evasion, were pardoned by President Donald Trump and walked free Wednesday. The couple is best known for the long-running TV series 'Chrisley Knows Best,' which followed their family and luxurious lifestyle — which prosecutors said was boosted by bank fraud and hiding earnings from tax authorities. The Chrisleys were convicted in 2022 of conspiring to defraud banks in the Atlanta area out of more than $30 million in loans by submitting false documents. The pardons signed Wednesday are the latest example of Trump, himself a former reality TV star, pardoning high-profile friends, supporters, donors and former staffers. Here are some things to know about the Chrisleys: How they rose to fame 'Chrisley Knows Best,' which ran from 2014 to 2023, chronicled the extravagant exploits of the boisterous, tightly knit family of the couple and their five children, from high-end cars to luxury vacations to stunning mansions. It was recorded in the Atlanta area at first and then in Nashville. In 2019 the show spawned the spinoff 'Growing Up Chrisley,' which featured the couple's children Chase and Savannah living in Los Angeles. The couple's 2022 trial started just after E! announced that it was moving forward with a new dating series, 'Love Limo,' hosted by Todd Chrisley. It also came soon after USA announced the renwal of 'Chrisley Knows Best' for a 10th season, while its spinoff was renewed by E! for a fourth season. Why they were imprisoned The Chrisleys were found guilty in 2022 in Atlanta on the fraud and tax charges. Until this Wednesday they still had years left on their sentences: Julie Chrisley was expected to be released in 2028, and Todd Chrisley in 2032. At trial prosecutors detailed a laundry list of offenses that started before they became famous. The Chrisleys and a former business partner submitted false documents to banks to obtain fraudulent loans and then used new loans to pay off the old ones, prosecutors said. The couple was accused of spending lavishly on cars, designer clothes, real estate and travel. Todd Chrisley filed for bankruptcy, walking away from more than $20 million in unpaid loans, according to prosecutors. Meanwhile Julie Chrisley created false financial documents to rent a home in Los Angeles, they said, but then the couple did not pay rent on it. Once they were starring in the reality show, they operated a company that collected their income from the series and other ventures and kept the corporate bank accounts in Julie Chrisley's name to avoid collection of half a million dollars in back taxes that Todd Chrisley owed, prosecutors said. When the IRS asked for information on the accounts, they transferred ownership to Todd Chrisley's mother to try to hide his income further, according to authorities. Prosecutors also accused the couple of not filing or paying taxes for several years The Chrisleys' lawyers argued that an IRS officer gave false testimony at trial and that prosecutors lacked evidence to support convictions. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld their convictions last year. Their daughter's work to free them Savannah Chrisley has been a staunch Trump supporter and endorsed his candidacy while also speaking about her parents in a speech at the Republican National Convention last summer. 'My family was persecuted by rogue prosecutors and Fulton County due to our public profile ... and conservative beliefs,' she said at the time. She has called the case against her parents politically motivated, though they were indicted in 2019 under a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney, Byung J. 'BJay' Pak. In a social media post Wednesday, she praised U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, the Justice Department lawyer assigned to advise Trump on pardons and commutations. 'Your leadership is already changing countless lives — including mine,' she said on the social platform X. 'Thank you for standing boldly for truth, for justice, and for reuniting families like mine.' What happens next? Todd Chrisley was released from a minimum security prison camp in Pensacola, Florida, in the evening, according to Shannen Sharpe, a spokesperson for his attorney, and Julie Chrisley left a facility in Lexington, Kentucky, Sharpe said. As Savannah Chrisley waited to meet her father at his prison, she said the family was planning to do a lot of catching up. 'We're going to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, Christmases, all the things,' she said, 'because we're going to make up for the lost time.' Trump said the celebrity couple had been 'given a pretty harsh treatment based on what I'm hearing.' The Constitution grants broad pardon powers to presidents, and their clemency actions cannot be undone by courts or other officials.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
What to know about reality TV stars Julie and Todd Chrisley, who were pardoned by Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — Reality TV stars Julie and Todd Chrisley, who were in prison after being convicted on federal charges of bank fraud and tax evasion, were pardoned by President Donald Trump and walked free Wednesday. The couple is best known for the long-running TV series 'Chrisley Knows Best,' which followed their family and luxurious lifestyle — which prosecutors said was boosted by bank fraud and hiding earnings from tax authorities. The Chrisleys were convicted in 2022 of conspiring to defraud banks in the Atlanta area out of more than $30 million in loans by submitting false documents. The pardons signed Wednesday are the latest example of Trump, himself a former reality TV star, pardoning high-profile friends, supporters, donors and former staffers. Here are some things to know about the Chrisleys: How they rose to fame 'Chrisley Knows Best,' which ran from 2014 to 2023, chronicled the extravagant exploits of the boisterous, tightly knit family of the couple and their five children, from high-end cars to luxury vacations to stunning mansions. It was recorded in the Atlanta area at first and then in Nashville. In 2019 the show spawned the spinoff 'Growing Up Chrisley,' which featured the couple's children Chase and Savannah living in Los Angeles. The couple's 2022 trial started just after E! announced that it was moving forward with a new dating series, 'Love Limo,' hosted by Todd Chrisley. It also came soon after USA announced the renwal of 'Chrisley Knows Best' for a 10th season, while its spinoff was renewed by E! for a fourth season. Why they were imprisoned The Chrisleys were found guilty in 2022 in Atlanta on the fraud and tax charges. Until this Wednesday they still had years left on their sentences: Julie Chrisley was expected to be released in 2028, and Todd Chrisley in 2032. At trial prosecutors detailed a laundry list of offenses that started before they became famous. The Chrisleys and a former business partner submitted false documents to banks to obtain fraudulent loans and then used new loans to pay off the old ones, prosecutors said. The couple was accused of spending lavishly on cars, designer clothes, real estate and travel. Todd Chrisley filed for bankruptcy, walking away from more than $20 million in unpaid loans, according to prosecutors. Meanwhile Julie Chrisley created false financial documents to rent a home in Los Angeles, they said, but then the couple did not pay rent on it. Once they were starring in the reality show, they operated a company that collected their income from the series and other ventures and kept the corporate bank accounts in Julie Chrisley's name to avoid collection of half a million dollars in back taxes that Todd Chrisley owed, prosecutors said. When the IRS asked for information on the accounts, they transferred ownership to Todd Chrisley's mother to try to hide his income further, according to authorities. Prosecutors also accused the couple of not filing or paying taxes for several years The Chrisleys' lawyers argued that an IRS officer gave false testimony at trial and that prosecutors lacked evidence to support convictions. A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld their convictions last year. Their daughter's work to free them Savannah Chrisley has been a staunch Trump supporter and endorsed his candidacy while also speaking about her parents in a speech at the Republican National Convention last summer. 'My family was persecuted by rogue prosecutors and Fulton County due to our public profile … and conservative beliefs,' she said at the time. She has called the case against her parents politically motivated, though they were indicted in 2019 under a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney, Byung J. 'BJay' Pak. In a social media post Wednesday, she praised U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, the Justice Department lawyer assigned to advise Trump on pardons and commutations. 'Your leadership is already changing countless lives — including mine,' she said on the social platform X. 'Thank you for standing boldly for truth, for justice, and for reuniting families like mine.' What happens next? Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. Todd Chrisley was released from a minimum security prison camp in Pensacola, Florida, in the evening, according to Shannen Sharpe, a spokesperson for his attorney, and Julie Chrisley left a facility in Lexington, Kentucky, Sharpe said. As Savannah Chrisley waited to meet her father at his prison, she said the family was planning to do a lot of catching up. 'We're going to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, Christmases, all the things,' she said, 'because we're going to make up for the lost time.' Trump said the celebrity couple had been 'given a pretty harsh treatment based on what I'm hearing.' The Constitution grants broad pardon powers to presidents, and their clemency actions cannot be undone by courts or other officials.
