Former President Donald Trump is expanding his list of controversial pardons, with reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley being the latest additions to receive clemency despite their conviction for significant financial crimes.

The announcement came during a direct call from Trump to the Chrisleys’ children from the Oval Office on Tuesday, where he informed them of his plans to pardon their parents as early as Wednesday. The couple, who gained fame through their reality show “Chrisley Knows Best,” had submitted their pardon requests to Trump in February.

According to MSNBC, the Chrisleys were found guilty of bilking banks out of tens of millions of dollars in 2022. Their conviction came after a lengthy federal trial in Georgia, where prosecutors presented substantial evidence leading to guilty verdicts on charges of fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Trump’s recent pardons raise concerns over connection to political and financial ties

The timing of this pardon announcement follows other controversial clemency decisions by Trump, including the pardon of former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins, who was convicted of accepting $75,000 in bribes for providing deputy badges to wealthy businessmen seeking special privileges.

Another recent controversial pardon involved Florida health care executive Paul Walczak, whose clemency was granted shortly after his mother attended a fundraising dinner at Mar-a-Lago with a $1 million per person entry fee, according to The New York Times.

While Trump is expected to justify the Chrisleys’ pardon by suggesting they were targeted for their conservative beliefs, evidence contradicts this narrative. The couple’s legal troubles began during Trump’s first term, with their initial indictment coming from federal prosecutors in 2019.

The pattern of Trump’s pardon decisions has raised questions about the use of presidential clemency powers. During his first term, Trump utilized his pardon authority to benefit political allies, undermine federal law enforcement, and extend favors to well-connected individuals. These recent pardons appear to continue this trend, despite potential political consequences as he maintains an active political career.

They’re certainly not the first celebrities to find themselves on the wrong side of the law, but Todd and Julie Chrisley certainly didn’t learn from those that came before.

For years, Martha Stewart was the go-to example of a fallen icon, following her arrest and subsequent jail time for making false statements in the midst of an insider trading investigation. She’s since been replaced by Donald Trump, the modern-day poster child of a former celebrity turned politician turned felon, and the Chrisleys, both of whom are currently serving jail time for bank fraud and tax evasion.

The former reality stars first came under scrutiny in 2022, and by the end of the year both Chrisleys were facing jail time. They were sentenced at the end of the year, and officially reported to prison in early 2023, but just a year later Julie Chrisley is facing a re-sentencing.

Following her re-sentencing, do we know when Julie Chrisley will be released?

A re-sentencing can be a good thing or a very bad thing. In the case of Julie Chrisley, it will likely result in a shorter prison sentence, spelling good news for the former reality star.

Chrisley’s case was sent back to the lower court for re-sentencing in mid-2024, after her legal team discovered an error in her initial sentencing. Due to the district court’s mistake, which “included losses incurred in 2006,” ahead of Chrisley’s alleged involvement in the scheme, she’s headed back to court for a re-examination of the charges.

Should Chrisley’s argument hold up, she’ll likely face a far shorter prison sentence than initially expected. The case has yet to reach the lower court, leaving us with no clarification on when Chrisley may be a free woman, but once the court makes a final decision this story will be updated with full details.

It’s been over a year since Todd and Julie Chrisley officially fell from the graces of reality TV, and started their 19-years-combined prison sentence after being found guilty of federal fraud charges. By September 2023, it was discovered that the Chrisley Knows Best stars’ sentences were shortened, and in November, their daughter, Savannah, revealed that the appeals court granted their oral arguments. But now, it seems like he just got his sentence reduced a bit more, and depending on the arguments, his true release date could be sooner than even expected.

When is he getting released from prison?

The patriarch was originally sentenced to 12 years for being part of bank fraud, tax evasion, and a conspiracy to defraud the IRS along with Julie. He’s currently being held at Federal Correctional Institution Pensacola in Florida. Before he started serving his time, he was denied bail and rejected to start his sentence at a later date.

Last year, it was found through the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ online inmate search system that he would be released on Jan. 22, 2033. Now, the search platform shows a release date of Oct. 9, 2032. This means his sentencing has been reduced further by a little over three months. Regarding the oral arguments, according to People, the hearing happened on April 19, but Todd and Julie were not in attendance. Instead, their family were present in court along with Savannah’s boyfriend, Robert Shiver, and attorney Alex Little. Little argued misconduct and how “the evidence suggested that the prosecutors here worked in concert with the witness.”

While there are no updates yet on if anything came from the oral arguments, it can be assumed that a decision might come within the next month. It’s a huge deal that the U.S. Court of Appeals granted the oral arguments in the first place, because not many happen per year. This means that they likely had reasons to resurface the case, and wanted to hear further arguments and ask the Chrisleys’ attorney more questions.

While Chrisley Knows Best has been canceled, it was reported that the Chrisley kids and Nanny Faye would be starring in a new show that would document their new normal. Of course, if Todd and Julie get out much earlier, it’s expected for them to take part in the show. For now, it looks like 2032 is Todd’s release time but it won’t be surprising to see it be decreased further as the year goes on.

It turns out Chrisley doesn’t know best, as TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley have reported into their respective prison locations to begin their sentences. The pair is best known for the reality show Chrisley Know Best, which centered around real estate tycoon Todd Chrisley and his family’s luxurious lifestyle.

The pair was sentenced to 19 years in prison between them ⏤ 12 years for Todd and seven for Julie ⏤ with three years probation after their release. Todd is currently serving his sentence in Pensacola and Julie is serving in a federal medical center in Kentucky. She was originally supposed to serve her sentence in Florida, two hours away from her husband, but it is not currently known why she has been reassigned.

A few days before reporting to prison, Julie and Todd’s daughter, Savannah Chrisley, made an Instagram post claiming the system had failed her mother. “Unfortunately, we are one of the many that the system has failed,” Savannah wrote, “and I will continue to fight the good fight until we’re all home together.”

The Chrisleys were indicted in 2019 and both were found guilty on 12 counts that included wire fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud for around $30 million in evaded taxes and fraudulent loans. That would be enough to continue funding their lavish lifestyle, but unfortunately the Chrisleys now have to trade their designer clothes for orange jumpsuits.

The Chrisleys have maintained their innocence and are planning on appealing their prison sentences. It goes without saying that Chrisley Knows Best has been canceled, as has the spinoff Growing Up Chrisley, which focuses on the pair’s children, Savannah and Chase. Additional spinoff Love Limo, which was meant to be a speed-dating reality show hosted and executive produced by Todd, has also been canceled.

One half of the disgraced reality show couple from Chrisley Knows Best will not be serving a prison term in Florida after all. Julie Chrisley, who was born in 1973, was reassigned to a federal medical center in Kentucky from a prison camp in Marianna, Florida.

Chrisley was ordered to report to the Federal Medical Center in Lexington before noon on Tuesday, according to reports. It’s not known why she was reassigned. Chrisley was originally supposed to report to Florida, about two hours from Pensacola where her husband will serve his 12-year-sentence for federal tax evasion. Chrisley was sentenced to seven years.

The medical facility is an “istrative security federal medical center with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp.” The Chrisleys portrayed themselves as big time real estate magnates but in reality they were given extravagant loans based on false information.

They were found guilty of defrauding banks out of more than $30 million as well as wire fraud and obstruction of justice. They used the money to fund their lifestyle of luxury cars, big houses and designer clothes. One of their mansions was reportedly worth $9 million.

Earlier in the day, Chrisley’s son Chase shared a post on his Instagram story that said “God is with us,” People reported. In a December interview on the Unlocked podcast hosted by his sister Savannah, he shared just how difficult it was being separated from his parents.

“Obviously, what we have been going through is hell. It is a terrible, terrible situation. But I have to try and find the good, even in the darkest time.”

As long as that “good” isn’t pretending to be faithful, moral people while stealing millions of dollars from community banks, then he’ll be fine. The Chrisleys are appealing their conviction.

After a nearly three-week-long trial reality TV stars, Todd and Julie Chrisley have been found guilty of all counts in their tax fraud trial.

The convictions were handed down in federal court in Atlanta, Georgia. According to Insider, the couple was convicted on all charges related to a long-running conspiracy to defraud banks and hide their money from the IRS.

Charges against Todd include conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the US, and tax fraud. Julie was charged with all of the same counts as well as wire fraud. These charges could result in the couple spending up to 30 years in prison.

Known for their reality TV show Chrisley Knows Best, prosecutors accused the couple of manipulating financial records to appear more wealthy, getting approval for more than $30 million in loans.

After banks caught on to what had been taking place, Todd and Julie filed for bankruptcy. Prosecutors also claimed that they then hid money from the IRS with the help of their former attorney Peter Tarantino. Tarantino was also convicted of conspiracy to defraud the US, and willfully flailing false tax returns.

Back in 2019, Todd claimed that the charges had been the result of a disgruntled employee who set out to convince the U.S. Attorney’s office that the couple had committed financial crimes. During their trial, Chrisley’s defense attempted to blame the employee for the crimes.