President Donald Trump has informed the children of reality television personalities Todd and Julie Chrisley of his intention to grant their parents a full pardon as early as Wednesday. The couple, known for their show “Chrisley Knows Best,” had sought clemency from President Trump in February after being convicted in 2022 of defrauding banks of tens of millions of dollars, according to NBC News.
In November 2022, a judge sentenced Todd Chrisley to 12 years in prison and his wife, Julie Chrisley, to seven years following their conviction on charges of fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy to defraud the United States by an Atlanta jury after a lengthy federal trial.
A White House official has confirmed to NBC News that President Trump intends to sign the pardons as soon as they are finalized, which is expected to occur within the next 24 hours. President Trump personally conveyed his decision to the Chrisleys’ children, Savannah and Grayson Chrisley, during a phone call.
“It’s a terrible thing, but it’s a great thing because your parents are going to be free and clean,” President Trump reportedly said during the call. “We’ll try getting it done tomorrow, so give them — I don’t know them — but give them my regards and wish them well. Wish them a good life.”
Grayson Chrisley responded to the President, stating, “Mr. President, I just want to say thank you for bringing my parents back.”
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields issued a statement saying that President Trump is “always pleased to give well-deserving Americans a second chance, especially those who have been unfairly targeted and overly prosecuted by an unjust justice system.” Fields added, “President Trump called Savannah and her brother from the Oval Office to personally inform them that he would be pardoning their parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley, whose sentences were far too harsh.”
Prosecutors had argued that Todd and Julie Chrisley conspired to defraud Atlanta-area banks of over $36 million in personal loans by submitting falsified bank statements and other financial records, which they subsequently used to purchase luxury vehicles and for travel. They were also accused of defrauding the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by evading the collection of $500,000 in taxes owed by Todd Chrisley, all while earning millions of dollars from their reality television show. Additionally, prosecutors alleged that the Chrisleys failed to file tax returns or pay any taxes for the tax years 2013 through 2016.
Separately, President Trump announced on Monday that he had granted a pardon to Scott Jenkins, a former Virginia sheriff who was sentenced in March to 10 years in prison for accepting over $75,000 in bribes in exchange for appointing Virginia businessmen as auxiliary deputy sheriffs. President Trump stated that Jenkins and his family had “been dragged through HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized” Justice Department during the Biden administration, a claim that has frequently accompanied his recent acts of clemency since returning to the White House.
President Trump has issued numerous pardons and commutations since beginning his second term, including for approximately 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
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