NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Todd Chrisley, recently pardoned and known for his reality TV show fame, expressed on Friday how his time in prison has profoundly impacted him. He emphasized a newfound commitment to aiding the friends he made during his incarceration.
“You can’t undergo something like what we’ve been through and simply move on,” Todd stated during a press briefing held in a Nashville, Tennessee, hotel just two days following his release. “Despite the hardships, I’ve encountered numerous blessings. I’ve connected with incredible individuals there and heard shocking tales about the flaws within our system.”
Despite being convicted on fraud and tax-related offenses, the star of “Chrisley Knows Best” maintains that he and his wife, Julie, were wrongfully convicted due to an unfair prosecution. He revealed plans to present evidence supporting their claim in an upcoming TV series.
“We’re grateful to be reunited with our family and excited to return to the broadcast world because we have an extensive story to share now,” he admitted.
When questioned if their celebrity status and connections played a role in receiving a pardon from former President Donald Trump, Chrisley remarked, “It’s hard to say definitively whether it influenced the outcome or not.” His daughter, Savannah Chrisley, also at the press conference, firmly credited her persistent advocacy. She has been a visible supporter of Trump and highlighted her parents’ plight during a speech at the Republican National Convention.
Todd Chrisley expressed mixed emotions watching his daughter’s efforts unfold from afar, saying he felt “overwhelmed with pride, realizing how rare an opportunity it was, as so many face adversity and rejection.”
Acknowledging the relatively decent conditions at the minimum-security prison camp in Pensacola, Florida, where he served, Chrisley noted the stark disparities in privileges among inmates.
“It’s important to recognize my own circumstances in a prison camp. I had it decent, with daily workouts, track walks, emails, and family calls,” he mentioned. However, he observed the unequal access to resources, especially among young African American inmates who faced denials in programming and other opportunities.
He reflected on how his imprisonment has deepened his religious faith and awareness of institutional problems. “God has shown me that with knowledge comes the responsibility to act,” he said. “Now, it’s our duty to highlight these issues and work towards bettering the lives of those affected.”
The show “Chrisley Knows Best,” which ran from 2014 to 2023, showcased the lavish lifestyle and tight-knit, lively dynamic of the Chrisley family, along with their five children, often through displays of luxury cars, vacations, and homes. Initially set in Atlanta, the show later relocated to Nashville, spawning a spin-off, “Growing Up Chrisley,” focused on Chase and Savannah’s life in Los Angeles.
The Chrisleys were initially charged in 2019, under an attorney appointed by Trump, and subsequently convicted by an Atlanta jury in 2022. Their convictions were upheld by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year. Prior to this week’s developments, Todd and Julie were expected to complete their sentences in 2032 and 2028, respectively.
In addition to serving time, the couple had been ordered to fulfill a $14 million restitution, which has now been nullified, according to their attorney Alex Little. He indicated that while the government confiscated some funds, totalling less than $100,000, it remains uncertain if those funds would be reimbursed.