Trump set to pardon reality TV duo Todd and Julie Chrisley

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday his plan to pardon Todd and Julie Chrisley, the reality TV couple known for “Chrisley Knows Best,” a show highlighting their close family ties and opulent lifestyle.

Prosecutors accused them of financing this lifestyle through bank fraud and hiding income from tax authorities.

The Chrisleys were convicted in 2022 for conspiring to defraud banks in the Atlanta area of more than $30 million (approximately Sh3.8 billion) by submitting false loan documents.

They were also found guilty of tax evasion, having concealed their earnings while flaunting a luxurious life that included expensive cars, designer clothing, real estate investments, and extensive travel, according to investigators.

Prosecutors stated that the couple shirked their loan repayment responsibilities after Todd Chrisley declared bankruptcy, leaving over $20 million (around Ksh2.5 billion) in unpaid loans.

Julie Chrisley was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, while Todd received a 12-year sentence. Additionally, the pair were ordered to pay $17.8 million (approximately Sh388 million) in restitution.

During a phone call with their daughter, Savannah Chrisley, President Trump said, “Your parents are going to be free and clean and I hope that we can do it by tomorrow,” as captured in a video shared online by a White House aide who captioned it, “Trump Knows Best!”

“They’ve been treated very harshly based on what I’m hearing,” Trump added shortly after referring to the couple.

A White House official, speaking anonymously about the pardons before they were made public, confirmed that the clemencies were imminent.

This pardon fits into Trump’s broader pattern of granting clemency to prominent friends, supporters, donors, and former staff.

Just a day earlier, he pardoned Scott Jenkins, a former Virginia sheriff sentenced to 10 years on fraud and bribery charges.

Trump criticized the Department of Justice under President Biden, saying Jenkins and his family “have been dragged through HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ.”

Trump has also pardoned Paul Walczak, a Florida healthcare executive convicted on tax charges whose mother exposed Ashley Biden’s diary contents.

In April, he pardoned Nevada Republican Michele Fiore, who faced federal charges for allegedly misusing funds meant for a police officer memorial, including spending on plastic surgery.

Todd and Julie Chrisley’s lawyer, Alex Little, described the pardon as a “correction of a deep injustice” that reunites two devoted parents with their family and community.

“President Trump recognized what we have maintained all along: Todd and Julie were targeted because of their conservative values and public profiles.

Their prosecution was marred by multiple constitutional violations and political bias,” Little said in a statement.

He added, “This case exemplifies why the pardon power exists. Thanks to President Trump, the Chrisley family can now begin the healing and rebuilding process.”

Prosecutors alleged that before their reality TV fame, the Chrisleys and a former business partner submitted fraudulent documents to Atlanta-area banks to secure loans.

They reportedly spent lavishly and then took out new fraudulent loans to cover previous debts.

Last summer, a three-judge panel from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Chrisleys’ convictions but identified an error in how Julie Chrisley’s sentence was calculated, holding her responsible for the entire fraud scheme.

Her case was sent back to a lower court for resentencing.

Savannah Chrisley spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention, addressing her parents’ imprisonment. She claimed they were “persecuted by rogue prosecutors,” echoing Trump’s critiques of the criminal justice system amid his own legal battles.

She also stated that her parents, like Trump, were targeted due to their conservative beliefs and high public profile.

Savannah Chrisley recalled at the convention, “I’ll never forget what the prosecutors said in the most heavily Democratic County in the state, before an Obama-appointed judge.

He called us the ‘Trumps of the South.’” She added, “He meant it as an insult, but let me tell you, boy, do I wear it as a badge of honor.”