Washington (AP) – President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday his plans for forgiveness. TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley are known for their reality show, with prosecutors claiming they concealed bank fraud and income from tax authorities while living a luxurious lifestyle featured in “Chrisley Knows Best.”
The Chrisleys were convicted in 2022 for conspiring to deceive Atlanta-area banks out of more than $30 million in loans through false documentation. They were also found guilty of tax evasion, showcasing an extravagant lifestyle that included high-end cars, designer clothes, real estate, and lavish travel while hiding their income.
Prosecutors stated that the couple became liable for repayment after Todd Chrisley declared bankruptcy, leaving over $20 million in unpaid loans. Julie Chrisley was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, while Todd Chrisley received a 12-year sentence. They were also ordered to make $17.8 million in reparations.
“Your parents will be free and clean,” Trump stated during a call with his daughter, Savannah Chrisley, according to a video shared online by White House aides. An aide emphasized on social media, “Trump knows best!”
“They have faced pretty strict treatment based on what I’m hearing,” the President commented after some time as a couple.
A White House official, who asked to remain anonymous to discuss a decision not yet finalized, indicated that a pardon was forthcoming.
This action continues Trump’s trend of pardoning notable friends, supporters, donors, and former staff. On Monday, Trump pardoned former Virginia Sheriff Scott Jenkins, who was sentenced to 10 years after being convicted of fraud and bribery. The President mentioned online that Jenkins and his family were “taken to hell by the corrupt and weaponized Biden DOJ.”
The President has also pardoned Paul Waltzak, a Florida healthcare executive imprisoned for tax-related crimes, and is addressing issues tied to Ashley Biden’s diary, the daughter of former President Joe Biden. In April, he pardoned Nevada Republican Michele Fiore, who awaits a ruling on federal charges related to expenditures for honoring a slain police officer, including personal expenses like plastic surgery.
The Chrisleys’ lawyer, Alex Little, expressed that the pardon would “rectify the profound injustice and restore these dedicated parents to their families and communities.”
In a statement, Little said, “President Trump recognized our initial discussions. Todd and Julie were targeted for their conservative ideals and fame. Their prosecutions were tainted by numerous constitutional violations and political bias.”
Little’s statement continued: “The case of Todd and Julie illustrates the very purpose of the power to pardon. Thanks to President Trump, the Chrisley family can now begin to heal and rebuild.”
Prior to becoming reality TV stars, prosecutors indicated that the Chrisleys and their former business partners submitted false documents to Atlanta-area banks to secure fraudulent loans, often using new loans to pay off old debt while lavishly spending.
Last summer, a panel of three judges from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals supported the Chrisleys’ claims, albeit discovering legal miscalculations in how the judge figured Julie Chrisley’s verdict. The appeals panel remanded her case to a lower court.
Savannah Chrisley addressed the 2024 Republican National Convention, discussing her parents’ imprisonment. She remarked that they had been “persecuted by corrupt prosecutors,” echoing Trump’s sentiments on justice when facing his own legal challenges.
She stated that Trump was targeted due to his political stance, similarly to her parents, who she argued faced scrutiny for their conservative values and popularity.
“I will never forget what the prosecutor stated before an Obama-appointed judge in a heavily Democratic county. He referred to us as ‘Trump of the South,'” Savannah Chrisley mentioned during her convention speech.
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Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.
Source: apnews.com