Todd Chrisley And Julie Chrisley Walks Free From Prison After Presidential Pardon

Todd Chrisley released from prison after Trump's pardon in a shocking turn of events that is causing waves in both Hollywood and the political world, Chrisley Knows Best star Todd Chrisley is reportedly no longer in prison after being pardoned by President Donald Trump. Chrisley, who was in the midst of a 12-year prison term at the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Florida, for tax evasion and bank fraud, was released on the evening of May 28. His wife, Julie Chrisley, who was also convicted and who had been serving out a seven-year sentence, was also pardoned and released soon after from the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Ky.

The stunning turn of events unfolded more than two years after the couple, who were famously convicted of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States, according to reports, tumbled from reality TV show fame to cautionary tales of financial duplicity beyond the glare of luxury homes and churning racehorses. Now, President Donald Trump has, in a decision lauded by some and criticized by others, moved to erase that slate.

"Todd has been released from prison and is on his way home to Nashville," the couple's attorney said in a statement. Their attorney, Jay Surgent, also stressed the injustice he says the Todds experienced, saying they were the target of an illegal search for evidence and a heavy-handed prosecution allegedly motivated by Todd and Julie's high profile. "The Chrisleys have correctly been pardoned by President Trump," said Surgent in a statement on May 27. Georgia authorities had violated their constitutional rights, and the evidence should have been suppressed. "President Trump correctly released them from custody in light of the injustice both Julie and Todd suffered."

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Aides to the Chrisleys and Trump were quick to celebrate the pardon as a way to right the system's overreach and judicial missteps. Critics, however, view it as a political play that establishes a dangerous precedent of high-profile criminal convictions being overturned by executive power. What makes it personal is Trump's personal touch while reaching out to the Chrisleys' children, Savannah, 27, and Grayson, 19. Two people close to the family said that before announcing the pardons, the president telephoned them directly and urged them to consider the pardon because he was convinced the parents had received "pretty harsh treatment" in a case "that shouldn't have happened."

The Chrisley family's swift reunion has sparked all sorts of public discourse, ranging from fan celebrations on social media to deeper discussions regarding the state of presidential pardon powers and the American justice system at large. Meanwhile, the couple's legal team has suggested that civil legal action could be taken against the authorities who had conducted the original prosecution. In addition, Todd and Julie's release opens up the possibility of a return to TV or media appearances. No official statements have been issued on the couple's next moves, but trade insiders predict they'll be inundated with media requests after their well-publicized release.

For now, Todd Chrisley is back home in Nashville, among family, supporters, and a cloud of controversy that will probably take some time to dissipate. This is not your typical homecoming for a celebrity. It's a political statement, a legal lightning rod, and, perhaps most of all, the opening chapter in an astounding comeback story. With a presidential stroke of a pen, the Chrisleys' penitentiary chapter comes to a close. However, the story may be far from over for the story and for a community still divided over their guilt or innocence.