For the first time since their release from prison, Julie and Todd Chrisley are opening up about the whirlwind of emotions they experienced upon learning they had been pardoned by former President Donald Trump. The reality TV stars, best known for their show Chrisley Knows Best, shared their stories in an exclusive interview with Fox News host Lara Trump, set to air Saturday, June 28, 2025, on My View with Lara Trump.
Julie Chrisley recalled the moment she found out about the pardon while serving time in a federal prison in Lexington, Kentucky. "I called my daughter Savannah one more time and she said, ‘He did it! He signed it!’ And I just started busting out crying," Julie said, her voice thick with emotion. "And then I just hung up. I was so nervous I just hung up. It was the craziest thing because unfortunately, most of the news that you get in prison is bad news. So they’re like, ‘Are you OK?’ And I’m like, ‘I am! I think I’m getting out of here!’"
Todd Chrisley, who was incarcerated at a federal prison in Pensacola, Florida, shared his own experience. Initially skeptical when a fellow inmate told him he might have been pardoned, Todd soon received confirmation from a corrections officer. "He came by and he goes, ‘Are you good?’ And I said, ‘As good as I can be.’ And he said, ‘Todd, you just got pardoned. They sent me down here to make sure you’re OK.’ And I said, ‘Well, they don’t need to be worrying about me now. Hell, if I’m pardoned, I’m great,’" Todd recounted.
The couple's gratitude extended to divine intervention and the former president. "We owe thanks to God. And I say—God touched President Trump’s heart. God led the people to advocate for us. And so, I’m grateful because every night I would pray that God would return me home to my wife and my children. And he did that, so I’m grateful," Todd added.
The Chrisleys’ legal troubles began in 2022 when they were convicted in a federal court in Atlanta, Georgia, on charges including tax evasion, bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy. Todd was sentenced to 12 years, while Julie received a seven-year sentence. They began serving their sentences on January 17, 2023. According to James Dorsey, special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Atlanta Field Office, "The Chrisleys defrauded financial institutions and the Federal Government through tax evasion and other fraudulent means in an effort to minimize their tax liability, but project an image of wealth. This sentencing serves notice that no matter a person’s celebrity status, there are severe consequences for defrauding the American tax system." Their sentences were later reduced before the pardon.
Their daughter Savannah Chrisley played a pivotal role in advocating for their release. She alleged the prosecution was politically motivated, citing her parents’ support for Donald Trump and their conservative values as factors behind their harsh treatment. In a video posted by White House aide Margo Martin, Donald Trump informed the Chrisley children in advance of his plans to help, saying, "Your parents are going to be free and clean and I hope we can do it by tomorrow. They were given a pretty harsh treatment, based on what I’m hearing, pretty harsh treatment." This promise was fulfilled when the pardon was granted in May 2025.
Since their release, the Chrisleys have been vocal about their experiences and their plans moving forward. Todd held a press conference with Savannah shortly after their release, where he maintained their innocence and addressed critics. He defended Donald Trump against detractors, stating on Savannah’s podcast Unlocked, "We owe thanks to God… and God touched President Trump's heart. God led the people to advocate for us. And so I'm grateful." He also took a jab at those who criticize the former president while later seeking pardons themselves, saying, "This group of Democrats yesterday, they posted a thing about our pardon… And I went back and said, ‘Who’d you vote for?’ Don’t start coming begging for a pardon now when you… ran him in the ground, talked all this mad s---." Despite their legal battles, Todd emphasized his belief in the prison system, acknowledging, "I believe in prison. I’m not sitting here saying to abolish prisons. Yes, but at the end of the day, we incarcerate more individuals in the United States of America than any other country in the world."
The Chrisley family is now turning the page. They are set to return to reality television with a new docuseries on Lifetime, which will provide an inside look at the trial and the family's ordeal. Savannah explained, "We’re going to set the record straight, and now we move forward with our lives." The show aims to give viewers an unfiltered perspective on what the family went through during those tumultuous years.
As the June 28 interview with Lara Trump approaches, anticipation is high for the Chrisleys’ candid recount of their journey from conviction and imprisonment to pardon and freedom. Their story is a rare glimpse into the intersection of celebrity, justice, and politics, underscored by themes of faith, family, and resilience.
With their legal battles behind them and a new chapter unfolding, Julie and Todd Chrisley are poised to reclaim their public narrative and continue their lives in the spotlight, this time with a story few could have imagined just a short time ago.
