Is Trump Using His Power to Help Famous Friends? The Chrisleys’ Release Raises Questions!

Certainly, here is the rewritten version of the article in a more professional journalistic style:

Reality TV Couple Todd and Julie Chrisley Pardoned by President Trump, Released from Federal Custody

WASHINGTON — Todd and Julie Chrisley, the couple known for their reality television show “Chrisley Knows Best,” were released from federal custody on Wednesday after receiving a pardon from President Donald Trump. Their release follows their 2022 convictions for fraud and tax-related offenses.

Todd Chrisley had been serving a 12-year prison sentence at a facility in Pensacola, Florida, while Julie Chrisley was serving a seven-year sentence in Lexington, Kentucky. A law firm representing the Chrisleys confirmed to CNN on Wednesday that the couple is now returning to their home in Nashville.

The Chrisleys’ pardons were among a series of controversial pardons issued by President Trump. These also included former Republican New York congressman Michael Grimm, who served seven months for tax evasion, and former Republican Governor of Connecticut John Rowland, who was convicted of federal campaign-related crimes.

The Chrisleys were originally sentenced for conspiracy to defraud banks of over $30 million and were also found guilty of several tax crimes, including attempts to defraud the Internal Revenue Service. Both Todd and Julie Chrisley have consistently maintained their innocence and were in the process of appealing their convictions. On Tuesday, their daughter, Savannah Chrisley, received a call from the president informing her of her parents’ impending full pardons.

Alex Little, an attorney representing the Chrisleys, told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that some pardon decisions are not necessarily about guilt or innocence but rather about the integrity of the process. He suggested that the White House ultimately concluded that the legal process in the Chrisleys’ case was flawed.

During their unsuccessful appeal last year, the Chrisleys’ legal team argued that the prosecution knowingly presented false testimony against the couple and that the evidence presented was insufficient for a conviction, according to the Associated Press. While judges at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Chrisleys’ convictions, they did order Julie Chrisley’s case to be sent back to a lower court for resentencing due to a calculation error. Little stated that the pardon process serves to indicate that the president believes the final outcome of the case was incorrect.

Speaking to reporters before her parents’ release, Savannah Chrisley expressed her unwavering support for her parents. She refuted any insinuation that she had to leverage any special favors to secure the pardon, stating that her efforts were solely based on her belief in her parents’ innocence and her fight for what she believed was right. She also framed her fight as being on behalf of others who deserve a second chance.

Savannah Chrisley previously spoke at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in July. She also actively campaigned for President Trump as part of “Team Trump’s Women Tour” and recently appeared on Lara Trump’s Fox News program to discuss her parents’ situation.

During a White House briefing on Wednesday, President Trump indicated he would consider further pardons when asked about potentially pardoning the men convicted of plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2020.