Savannah Chrisley speaks out on Trump's pardon for Todd, Julie Chrisley
Share and Follow


The move continues a pattern of Trump pardoning high-profile friends, supporters, donors and former staffers.

WASHINGTON — Savannah Chrisley, the influencer and daughter of imprisoned TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, has given her first public statement since President Donald Trump told her over the phone that her parents would be freed.

“I just couldn’t continue to post normally without saying how excited I am that Todd and Julie are coming home, because this has obviously been such a gut-wrenching situation for the family,” Savannah said on her Instagram story. “I can’t contain my excitement.”

The Chrisleys, were the stars of “Chrisley Knows Best,” a reality show that followed their tight-knit family and extravagant lifestyle that prosecutors said was boosted by bank fraud and hiding earnings from tax authorities. 

Todd and Julie Chrisley were convicted in 2022 of conspiring to defraud banks in the Atlanta area out of more than $30 million in loans by submitting false documents. They were also found guilty of tax evasion, obscuring their earnings while showcasing a luxurious way of living that authorities said included high-priced cars, designer clothes, real estate and travel.

In a video posted by the White House Tuesday, Trump called Savannah to tell her he planned to pardon her parents, freeing them from federal prison. 

“They’ve been given a pretty harsh treatment based on what I’m hearing,” Trump said in the call. “Your parents are going to be free and clean and I hope that we can do it by tomorrow.” 

Prosecutors said the couple walked away from their responsibility for repayment when Todd Chrisley declared bankruptcy and left $20-plus million in unpaid loans. Julie Chrisley was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, and Todd Chrisley got 12 years behind bars. The couple was also ordered to pay $17.8 million in restitution.

Since her parents were convicted, Savannah has been lobbying for a pardon, telling People in February that she was “going through the proper channels” to secure one. 

Savannah had lunch at the White House that month, according to her Instagram. 

Earlier in May, she appeared on “My View,” the TV talk show hosted by Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, on Fox News.

A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss decisions that hadn’t yet been made public, said the pardons would be forthcoming.

The move continues a pattern of Trump pardoning high-profile friends, supporters, donors and former staffers. On Monday, Trump pardoned Scott Jenkins, a former Virginia sheriff who was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted on fraud and bribery charges. The president posted online that Jenkins and his family “have been dragged through HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ.”

The president has also moved to pardon Paul Walczak, a Florida health care executive imprisoned on tax charges, whose mother helped expose the contents of a diary kept by Ashley Biden, daughter of former President Joe Biden. And, in April, he pardoned Nevada Republican Michele Fiore, who was awaiting sentencing on federal charges that she used money meant for a statue honoring a slain police officer for personal costs, including plastic surgery.

The Chrisleys’ attorney, Alex Little, said the pardon “corrects a deep injustice and restores two devoted parents to their family and community.”

“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,” Little said in a statement.

Little’s statement added, “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.”

Before the Chrisleys became reality television stars, they, and a former business partner, submitted false documents to banks in the Atlanta area to obtain fraudulent loans, prosecutors said during their trial. They accused the couple of spending lavishly, then using new fraudulent loans to pay off old ones.

A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last summer upheld the Chrisleys’ convictions but found a legal error in how the trial judge had calculated Julie Chrisley’s sentence by holding her accountable for the entire bank fraud scheme. The appellate panel sent her case back to the lower court for resentencing.

Savannah Chrisley spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention, where she talked about her parents’ imprisonment. She said then that they were “persecuted by rogue prosecutors” — echoing Trump’s rhetoric about the criminal justice system as he faced investigations and criminal cases of his own.

She said Trump had been targeted for his politics, and said her parents likewise were targeted because of their conservative beliefs and high profile.

“I’ll never forget what the prosecutors said in the most heavily Democratic county in the state, before an Obama-appointed judge. He called us the ‘Trumps of the South,’” Savannah Chrisley said in her remarks at the convention, adding, “He meant it as an insult but, let me tell you, boy, do I wear it as a badge of honor.”

Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price contributed.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Our Chicago: Channyn Lynne Parker, new CEO of Equality Illinois

Meet Channyn Lynne Parker: Equality Illinois’ Newly Appointed CEO Transforming the Future

CHICAGO — Equality Illinois, originally established in 1991 under the name Illinois…
Exclusive | 92-year-old Holocaust survivor votes for first time ever -

Exclusive: 92-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Casts First Vote

In a heartwarming turn of events, a 92-year-old Holocaust survivor from The…
Cruise ship allegedly leaves 80-year-old woman behind on island, daughter demands answers after death

Tragedy at Sea: 80-Year-Old Left Behind by Cruise Ship Sparks Outrage and Investigation

The daughter of an 80-year-old woman, who was discovered deceased after reportedly…
What to know about Trump and rising tensions with Venezuela

Understanding the Escalating Tensions Between Trump and Venezuela

Discussions about potential military action against Venezuela are intensifying. On Thursday, The…
Salvador Lozano charged with attempted murder for Addison shooting, police standoff in 200-block of East La Porte Drive: officials

Officials Charge Salvador Lozano with Attempted Murder Following Addison Shooting and Police Standoff on East La Porte Drive

In Addison, Illinois, a 45-year-old man named Salvador Lozano is facing serious…
I can't disclose my medical history to my partner. He'd leave me

Concerns Over Partner’s Reaction Lead to Reluctance in Sharing Medical History

Dear Jane, Once upon a time, I was a firm believer that…
Trump renovates Lincoln Bathroom, strips away 'totally inappropriate' art deco style

Trump Revamps Lincoln Bathroom: Replaces ‘Inappropriate’ Art Deco Design with Classic Elegance

On Friday, President Trump unveiled the newly renovated Lincoln Bathroom in the…

Federal Agents Reportedly Spotted in Unusual Masks in Los Angeles County

In Los Angeles, federal agents were recently observed sporting Halloween masks while…