Todd Chrisley maintains innocence, vows to fight for prisoners
(NewsNation) — Reality TV star Todd Chrisley spoke to the press on Friday for the first time since he and his wife were pardoned by President Donald Trump.
Chrisley began by thanking supporters and pledging that he would continue to fight for the wrongly convicted and speak out about the conditions inside prison.
“I was convicted of something I did not do,” he said. “It could be you, it could be any of you.”
Chrisley also maintained that the trial and conviction were unfair and that he and his wife should never have been convicted.
Todd Chrisley, Julie Chrisley convicted in 2022
The Chrisleys were convicted in 2022 of conspiring to defraud Atlanta-area banks out of more than $30 million in loans by submitting false documents and tax evasion. Authorities said they took steps to obscure their earnings while living a publicly luxurious life.
-
Todd Chrisley was released from prison after being pardoned by President Donald Trump. (NewsNation) -
FILE – “Chrisley Knows Best” cast members from left, Chase Chrisley, Savannah Crisley, Julie Crisley and Todd Chrisley attend the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment 2014 Upfront at the Javits Center on Thursday, May 15, 2014, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) -
FILE – Todd Chrisley, left, and his wife, Julie Chrisley, pose for photos at the 52nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 2, 2017, in Las Vegas. Reality TV star Julie Chrisley’s sentence for bank fraud and tax evasion has been thrown out by federal appeals judges, who have ordered a lower court to redo her punishment, Friday, June 21, 2024.(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) -
CHRISLEY KNOWS BEST — “We Be Jammin'” Episode 812 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Todd Chrisley, Faye Chrisley — (Photo by: USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) -
Julie and Todd Chrisley in the episode “Let’s Talk About Sex, Grayson.” (Photo by: USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) -
Reality TV personality Todd Chrisley visits Hallmark’s “Home & Family” at Universal Studios Hollywood on June 18, 2018, in Universal City, California. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images) -
Savannah Chrisley attends the red carpet for Fox’s “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” at Fox Studio Lot on Sept. 12, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Todd Chrisley declared bankruptcy and left more than $20 million in unpaid loans, which prosecutors said was the couple walking away from responsibility. Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Julie Chrisley to seven and the couple was ordered to pay $17.8 million in restitution.
The couple has maintained their innocence and said they were treated harshly.
Savannah Chrisley has advocated for parents’ release
The couple’s daughter, Savannah Chrisley, has been an advocate for their release, seeking a presidential pardon and has also publicly supported Trump.
In the press conference, Chrisley blamed an Obama-appointed judge for allowing what she called “illegal” evidence.
On Wednesday, Trump pardoned the couple; they were released later that day. The couple was not seen together, but both appeared on their daughter’s Instagram with posts celebrating their release.
Todd Chrisley, Julie Chrisley among many pardons by Trump
The Chrisleys were among a flurry of pardons issued by Trump, who has rejected the typical lengthy pardon process that includes review from the Justice Department.
Several of those pardoned or whose sentences were commuted were supporters of Trump or whose crimes aligned with the president’s views, such as a military member jailed for failing to adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols.
The Chrisleys are reportedly planning to return to TV with a new series about their legal battles.
Click Here for the Full Article
Author: Steph Whiteside
