President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he will pardon reality television stars Todd and Julie Chrisley following their convictions for tax evasion and bank fraud, telling their children in a phone call from the Oval Office, "Your parents are going to be free and clean." The pardon is expected to be finalized by Wednesday, according to a White House official speaking anonymously to the Associated Press.
The couple, known for their USA Network series Chrisley Knows Best, was convicted in 2022 for conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million and for evading taxes. Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years and Julie to seven, though both sentences were later reduced. They began serving their sentences in January 2023.
Trump informed the Chrisleys' children, Savannah and Chase, of the decision during a phone call that was later posted to X by a White House aide. "It's a terrible thing, but it's a great thing, because your parents are going to be free and clean, and I hope we can do it by tomorrow," Trump said. "They were given pretty harsh treatment, based on what I'm hearing. Congratulate your parents, and I hear they're terrific people. This should not have happened."
BREAKING: President Trump is set to fully pardon reality stars Todd and Julie Chrisley. pic.twitter.com/tIPbSbh4cA — Leading Report (@LeadingReport) May 27, 2025
Alice Marie Johnson, whom Trump appointed as his "pardon czar" and whose drug sentence he commuted during his first term, stood beside the president during the call. "Alice had a lot to do with this," Trump added.
Savannah Chrisley, who has publicly advocated for her parents' release, shared an emotional reaction on Instagram, saying, "Both my parents are coming home," and, "I could not be more grateful." In a separate post, she added, "I have shed so many tears," and, "I'm just speechless." She told followers that she and her family were "freaking out over here" and preparing for her parents' return.
In July 2024, Savannah delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention accusing "rogue prosecutors in Fulton County" of persecuting her family. Following Tuesday's news, she declared she would continue to fight for "men and women who are in prison," praising Trump as "a president who wants to restore families and loves people."
Their attorney, Alex Little, applauded the decision in a statement to Fox News Digital: "President Trump recognized what we've argued from the beginning: Todd and Julie were targeted because of their conservative values and high profile. Their prosecution was tainted by multiple constitutional violations and political bias."
He continued, "Todd and Julie's case is exactly why the pardon power exists. Thanks to President Trump, the Chrisley family can now begin healing and rebuilding their lives."
The couple had initially been indicted in August 2019 and sentenced in November 2022 after a jury found they submitted fake financial documents to obtain loans and failed to report income. Prosecutors said Todd Chrisley walked away from $20 million in unpaid loans through a bankruptcy filing.
The Chrisleys' legal team appealed the convictions, but a panel of judges upheld the verdict in 2023. Julie's sentence was briefly reconsidered due to insufficient evidence before being reinstated.
In the wake of their imprisonment, Savannah assumed guardianship of the family's youngest children, Grayson and Chloe. "I wasn't expecting to get two kids," Savannah told PEOPLE earlier this year. "Sure, I put a smile on my face... But it doesn't mean I actually am the part. You fake it till you make it."
The family is now preparing for a new reality series with Lifetime, which will chronicle their lives before and after the legal turmoil. The series does not yet have a release date.
