Julie Chrisley debuts dramatic jail makeover after controversial Trump pardon saw her and husband Todd freed
As I stepped out into the world post-prison, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of rebirth. My appearance had undergone a significant transformation, a stark contrast to the polished image I once portrayed as a reality star. Hours after my release, thanks to President Trump’s generous pardon, I was ready to embrace this new chapter in my life with an unapologetic, refreshed look.
52-year-old Julie, recently released with her husband Todd on Wednesday, appeared nearly unidentifiable as she exited a butcher shop in Nashville, showcasing a new brown and gray hairstyle during her initial moments of freedom on Thursday.
Initially captured by Fox News Digital, the previous star of Chrisley Knows Best, recognized for her well-groomed blonde hairstyle, is seen smiling in this photograph.
In the year 2022, Julie and her partner, Todd, both aged 56, who are popular figures on Chrisley Knows Best and its subsequent series, were convicted for defrauding banks to the tune of around $30 million.
As a lifestyle guide, I’ve been reflecting on the lives of two individuals, myself included, who find themselves incarcerated – Julie in Kentucky for seven years and Todd in Florida for twelve.
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On the early evening of a weekday, Todd departed from Federal Prison Camp Pensacola, as did Julie from FMC Lexington, as reported by Fox5.
27-year-old Savannah, their overjoyed daughter, addressed reporters outside the Florida prison following her long-term efforts in advocating for their freedom.
As I proudly donned my vibrant pink ‘MAGA Barbie’ ensemble, I enthusiastically praised President Trump after receiving a personal phone call from him on Tuesday. He graciously shared the news that he would be granting my parents a complete and unconditional pardon.
In June 2022, following a lengthy jury trial spanning almost three weeks, Todd and Julie were found guilty for devising a scheme to deceive banks in the Atlanta, Georgia region, resulting in an estimated $30 million in fraudulent personal loans obtained through submission of fabricated documents.
Apart from being charged with wire fraud and tax evasion, they were additionally proven to have hidden their income while flaunting a lavish lifestyle through extravagant cars and high-end fashion apparel.
With a bright hot pink MAGA cap on her head, Savannah expressed her heartfelt thanks for being able to depart with her father, following an extraordinary three-year journey aimed at securing their release alongside Julie.
She verified that it was her brother, Grayson Chrisley, who would retrieve their mother from the Kentucky correctional institution.
The President granted those pardons about 3 o’clock today, as he himself mentioned, and it involves individuals like Alice Johnson, Ed Martin, among others,” she informed the audience in simpler terms.
They’ve thoroughly examined Todd and Julie’s case under a magnifying glass, and they’ve uncovered instances of dishonesty or impropriety.
Upon wrapping up my conversation with Trump, I made my way to my father’s penitentiary in Pensacola at 2 a.m. on Wednesday, and I’ve been patiently waiting here ever since.
She shared, still chuckling, that she hadn’t slept anywhere, didn’t pack any clothing or a toothbrush, and had essentially arrived empty-handed.
‘I’m just a daughter that wants to take my dad home with me.’
Savannah mentioned that at first, Todd and Julie seemed utterly astonished by the pardon.
She expressed that it took her by surprise when the pardon was announced, as she had just stepped into a grocery store when the call from the president arrived, as I mentioned earlier.
Overwhelmed by astonishment and admiration, I couldn’t believe it when the president personally contacted me and spent time informing me that my family was reuniting.
Savannah mentioned that their entire interaction was recorded on camera, and she received a call from him stating that he would be bringing her family back together.
In addition, she mentioned that Trump exchanged a few words with her younger sibling, Grayson Chrisley (age 19), concerning the University of Alabama, which was the venue for President Trump’s recent graduation speech.
Grayson is currently a sophomore at the university located in Tuscaloosa.
Savannah exclaimed, “It was simply fantastic! There was a genuine human connection, and despite being our president, he showed a warm and caring side towards people.
Over the past day, I’ve been overwhelmed by an outpouring of both admiration and criticism. Some have even speculated about the actions I might have taken to receive this clemency. However, let me clarify that I didn’t earn it through any specific deeds or favors.
Instead of needing to take any specific actions, I simply needed to maintain my beliefs and convictions, hold strong, and battle for the well-being of my parents and justice.
Savannah asserted that since taking office, President Trump has offered hope and a more promising future not only to her family, but to the entire American populace.
People often express that Trump, despite being perceived as favoring the affluent and those who support him, has essentially provided an opportunity for everyone to improve their lives. For this reason, I will always be thankful.
Savannah announced that she and her loved ones, which include Todd and Julie, are set to make a comeback on television with a fresh reality series in the near future.
I’m thrilled to share that I’m part of a team bringing a fresh series to Lifetime. This show promises an in-depth exploration of various topics, and I can’t wait for you to see it!
As reported by TMZ, filming for the Chrisleys’ latest series has already commenced. A film crew accompanied Savannah and Grayson on their journey to retrieve their parents who were in prison.
According to production insiders, it appears that the surprise reaction of the couple will play a significant role in the upcoming episodes, as both Todd and Julie’s emotional outbursts were caught on film during the production process.
Yet, it was asserted that Trump’s unscheduled phone conversation with Savannah, which took place on Tuesday, eluded Lifetimes’ film crew’s recording.
In the initial concept for the family’s upcoming series, it was intended to incorporate brief appearances by Todd and Julia through calls from prison, while the main plot would revolve around Savannah and her elder brother, Chase Chrisley, keeping the family together as their parents serve their time behind bars.
At the end of yesterday’s press conference, Savannah expressed gratitude towards both ‘God’ and ‘President Trump’, acknowledging them for their role in reuniting her family.
A while after that, Savannah uploaded a picture of herself standing before her father’s correctional facility on Instagram, accompanied by an extended message detailing her efforts to support her loved ones.
‘Today outside my father’s prison, I held a press conference and flashed a smile that hasn’t graced my face in years. It’s the smile of a daughter who refused to yield, a woman who shed tears in secret, crumbled in the court bathrooms, but persisted even when the world urged me to resign. This is how I chose to express myself to my 2.9 million followers.’
she went on to say: Beyond the facade of her smile lies weariness, pain, and countless restless nights. Yet, there’s passion, determination, and belief within her as well.
‘I’m the result of a determined mother and an angry child. Let me assure you, there’s no force more formidable than a woman protecting her loved ones.’
Savannah expressed gratitude towards President Trump and his team, while acknowledging her own efforts, as she fulfilled her pledge to her parents by returning them home.
In her own words, she declared that she would bring her parents back home and true to her word, she did. Through divine intervention, President Trump’s boldness, Alice Johnson’s kindness, Ed Martin’s honesty, and the Trump administration’s resolve – we accomplished the seemingly unachievable.
This struggle we’re engaged in has always transcended our own circumstances. It’s about all families suffering from inequalities. About every parent, every child, and every individual who’s had their voice suppressed or spirit crushed by a system that often overlooks the human aspect behind the news headlines.
Remember this, keep up the struggle. If tears come, let them fall. If you feel overwhelmed, allow yourself to break. But never, ever lose faith. Your opinion counts. Your experiences count. And when women unite, they can shift even the mightiest of obstacles.
Wrapping up my post here, I hinted that there’s more to come with a wink and a nod – we’re merely embarking on an exciting journey. I also added the hashtags as a show of support for #Freedom, #JusticeForAll, #Pardoned, expressing hope for the future with #Trump2025, and standing firm in #FaithOverFear.
Afterward, she shared a short clip on her Instagram Story, disclosing that she vomited during their car ride back to Nashville with her father Todd.
Todd could be heard laughing in the background as his daughter held a plastic bag under her chin.
‘Guys I puked the whole way,’ said Savannah, while still wearing her pink MAGA cap.
Even though the camera didn’t capture Todd on screen, he kept laughing, commenting that he could detect the scent of Savannah’s nausea from afar.
After Savannah suggested that he should simply “spritz perfume” inside the car, Todd jokingly remarked, “I didn’t encounter such issues in prison!
As a devoted follower, I share that Margo Martin, a White House advisor, shared a video of the president making a call to Savannah on Tuesday, with the caption “Trump Knows Best!” This is a nod to their popular reality TV show’s title.
Over the past two and a half years, Savannah has been a consistent presence advocating for a pardon for her family members within the MAGA community.
She went to the 2024 Republican National Convention and the 2024 Conservative Political Action Conference, two occasions where Trump served as the main attraction and his assistants and associates were in abundance.
She appeared on the sidelines of last month’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The effort paid off when Savannah received the call from the Oval Office on Tuesday.
Trump said to Savannah on the phone, “That’s really unfortunate, really unfortunate, but it’s fantastic news since your parents will become free and clear of whatever issue. I’m hoping we can manage it as soon as possible, perhaps even by tomorrow, does that sound alright with you?
Julie had been scheduled for incarceration at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky up until January 2028.
According to the Palm Beach Post, Todd served his prison term at FPC Pensacola, remaining confined there until the month of April 2032.
‘I don’t know them, but them give my regards,’ Trump also said. ‘Wish them a good life.’
In my own words, I’m relaying my gratitude to the president over the phone, and letting him know that my brother, Grayson, was also there with me during our conversation.
Grayson piped up, ‘Mr. President, I just want to say thank you for bringing my parents back.’
‘Yeah, well, they were given a pretty harsh treatment from what I’m hearing,’ Trump said.
On Tuesday, Savannah disclosed additional insights from her conversation with Trump during her interview on NewsNation’s On Balance with Leland Vittert.
She shared that Trump expressed his viewpoint that her parents had been wronged, and he intended to grant them a complete pardon.
She said, “To be honest, they didn’t seem like typical terrorists to me.” She found it amusing and commented on it.
As a connoisseur of life’s nuances, I took to Instagram on Tuesday to express my thoughts following the announcement of a pardon, after being presented with a heartfelt conversation excerpt between us, graciously shared by White House advisor Margo Martin in a brief video clip.
She expressed her gratitude to supporters by saying, “President Trump didn’t merely reduce their sentences; he granted them a complete and absolute pardon. For this, I am eternally thankful. Thank you, President Trump.
Afterward, Savannah pledged to stand alongside Trump and his administration, taking a firm stance against corruption, and relentlessly advocating for those incarcerated individuals who rely on us.
She stated, “I’ll return the favor of your kindness to everyone I encounter, so let’s be grateful for a president like Donald J. Trump.
As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but rejoice at the news! Alex Little, the Chrisleys’ attorney, declared that Trump’s pardon was nothing short of rectifying a grave injustice. It brings back two loving parents into their family and community, restoring them to us where they truly belong.
In a statement, Little explained that President Trump agreed with our initial point – Todd and Julie were singled out due to their strong conservative beliefs and prominent status.
‘Their prosecution was tainted by multiple constitutional violations and political bias.’
The situation involving Todd and Julie serves as a clear example of why the presidential pardon power was established. With President Trump granting them a pardon, the Chrisley family is now able to start the process of mending and restoring their lives.
Instead, the couple’s request for forgiveness faced strong criticism online, with many expressing their disappointment that they feel ‘there is no more justice left.’
On Reddit, one simply wrote: ‘What a world this is?’
‘If you trick millions, avoid paying taxes, and yet manage to stay out of prison, simply flash a smile for the cameras, and eventually, a pardon may come your way.’
Echoing a similar sentiment, a third added: ‘There is no justice anymore.’
It’s fantastic that they managed to swindle millions from a bank, falsify their tax returns, and yet it seems like they won’t face any repercussions!
It’s amazing how they got away with stealing millions from the bank, cheating on their taxes, and there don’t appear to be any penalties for them!
‘Reality TV grifters have to stick together!’ joked a sixth.
‘Someone wondered: ‘In what way do Republicans/MAGA rationalize this act and still manage to get a good night’s rest, given that they are backing the pardon of individuals accused of deceit?’
Fellow reality television star Joe Exotic was also among those who were angered by the pardon.
Currently, Joe is incarcerated at the Federal Medical Center Fort Worth in Texas, serving a 21-year term due to his involvement in a plot to hire someone to commit murder.
He has been fighting for a pardon for the past five years.
He posted a snapshot of a PEOPLE magazine article about the Chrisleys’ pardon on Tuesday, writing as a caption: “This clearly demonstrates that the justice system remains partial. Either you’re wealthy and influential, or you’re less fortunate and trapped within it.
In an exclusive conversation with DailyMail.com, he expressed his deepest disappointment, stating, “I’ve never felt more let down in my entire life. President Trump is granting pardons to individuals who have clearly committed crimes, while leaving me in this situation.
He added: ‘I sit here innocent with two forms of cancer and can’t get his attention.’
On Wednesday, instead of keeping quiet, Joe publicly commended the Chrisley family by leaving a comment on Savannah’s recent Instagram update.
‘Congratulations. Hope I am next. But we have to expose the inside of here,’ he wrote.
This week, Trump, together with Todd and Julie Chrisley, granted pardons to multiple other people as well.
On Wednesday, the tax fraud conviction from 2014 against Michael Grimm, a previous representative of New York City, was pardoned.
Grimm, who was Staten Island’s representative, spent seven months behind bars and completed two hundred hours of public service due to his conviction.
In 2014, he managed to win another term in office, even though he was being investigated for not reporting his wages and the income of his restaurant correctly. Yet, he stepped down from his position the very next year after admitting guilt in court.
Previously, Grimm, infamously known for his threat to push a journalist off a balcony during the 2014 State of the Union, had been accused of engaging in intimate activities inside a bar’s restroom after being secluded with a female companion for over 15 minutes.
A year ago, he became unable to move from his chest down after being thrown off a horse during a polo match.
Previously elected New York City Council member, Vincent Ignizio, launched a GoFundMe campaign aimed at raising $2.5 million in contributions to cover treatment costs and enable former colleague Grimm to walk once more.
Additionally, the president granted clemency to a union leader, who had admitted guilt for not disclosing presents received from an ad agency.
As James Callahan, hailing from Lindenhurst, New York, I held the position of General President for the International Union of Operating Engineers. During my tenure, I was privileged to receive tickets valued at least $315,000 for sporting events, concerts, and other perks from a company that we often utilized for ad placements. Unfortunately, I neglected to report these generous gifts appropriately.
Judge Ana Reyes had planned to pass sentence on Callahan on Wednesday, but on Tuesday, Callahan’s legal team informed the court that they had received a ‘complete and unrestricted’ pardon from President Trump. As a result, they requested the sentencing hearing to be cancelled.
Previously this month, prosecutors suggested a six-month imprisonment for Callahan, labeling him as one of the strongest labor union leaders nationwide.
Or:
A few weeks ago, prosecutors proposed that Callahan serve a six-month sentence, classifying him as among the country’s most influential union heads.
It was mentioned that Callahan earned over half a million dollars yearly as his salary and additional benefits. Currently residing in Florida in retirement, he reportedly possesses a wealth exceeding five million dollars, as claimed by the prosecution.
Meanwhile, ex-Chicago gang leader Larry Hoover has had his sentence commuted.
Hoover has been serving multiple life sentences for murder and running a criminal enterprise.
I, a diehard fan, eagerly followed the news as he stepped into court after decades, hoping for an early release – a story that made headlines in the Chicago Tribune.
Previously, Hoover had been imprisoned under a 200-year state penalty for murdering a competitor, and then, in 1995, federal charges were brought against him.
In 1997, he was found guilty for maintaining control over his lethal drug operation even from behind bars, resulting in a life sentence.
On Wednesday, Trump mentioned he was thinking about granting clemency to the individuals who conspired to capture Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
He mentioned in the Oval Office on Wednesday that he intends to examine it and will also assess it. Previously, it had been brought to his notice. Furthermore, he admitted that he followed the trial and it appeared to him as though there was some degree of a setup or bias, to put it frankly.
It seemed as if some individuals were saying rather foolish things. You understand, they had been drinking, and I suspect their actions may have been influenced by the alcohol.
Trump claimed there was bipartisan support for the pardon.
He stated, “From all directions, I’m being asked that same question. Many individuals feel they were given a raw deal, while others express the same sentiment.
Back in the year 2020, while President Trump was serving his initial term, six individuals were accused by federal authorities of plotting to abduct Governor Whitmer.
On Monday, Donald Trump granted clemency to a previous sheriff from Virginia, who had been scheduled to begin serving his sentence for participating in a corrupt badge sale operation.
Sheriff Scott Jenkins, who backed Trump during his initial term, made trips to the White House and served as a campaign representative for Virginia on the campaign trail during that time.
Trump stated on Truth Social in the afternoon that this Sheriff has been unjustly targeted by a zealous Department of Justice under President Biden, and it is not right for him to serve even a moment in prison.
Towards the end of last month, Donald Trump granted clemency to Paul Walczak, who mentioned in his petition that his mother had amassed funds for the Trump election campaigns.
Walczak admitted guilt for tax-related offenses just prior to the 2024 election, followed by submitting an application for clemency soon after the inauguration.
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