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By Andrew Stanton
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Savannah Chrisley, the daughter of reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, said she does not believe being a white celebrity did not help her secure her parents' pardon from President Donald Trump.
Newsweek reached out to a lawyer who represented the family for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Trump's decision to pardon the Chrisleys adds to his record of using executive clemency for politically aligned figures and public personalities. The Chrisleys were found guilty in 2022 of submitting fraudulent documents to secure tens of millions in loans, then using the money to fund a lavish lifestyle including luxury cars, designer clothing and real estate.
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What to Know
During a press conference on Friday, Savannah Chrisley addressed those who believe her parents were pardoned due to their status as celebrities.
"The biggest misconception right now is that I either paid for a pardon or slept for a pardon. That's the biggest misconception right now. If people knew the countless hours and the money and the time that I spent going to D.C., literally with not a meeting scheduled, and I just got on a plane and said I'm going to be in the right room at the right time and meet the right people," she said.
She said she "fought hard" for her parents and "begged for meetings" to secure a pardon.
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"People think, 'Oh you're a celebrity. You're white. You have money.' That we got an upper hand and we didn't," she said. "I had to fight, and I was relentless and that's how it happened. Finally, people listened."
After their conviction, Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Julie Chrisley to seven; they were also ordered to pay $17.8 million in restitution. An appellate court upheld their convictions but returned Julie's case to the lower court for resentencing due to an error in how her sentence was calculated.
Savannah Chrisley said she hoped Trump would pardon her parents in a February interview with People magazine.
"I know that I am going through the proper channels to do so, and I'm going to bring as much awareness to it as possible because these things should not happen," she told the outlet.
The family rose to fame for their reality TV show Chrisley Knows Best, which aired for 10 seasons from 2014 to 2023.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump said on the phone with Savannah Chrisley: "It's a terrible thing, but it's a great thing, because your parents are going to be free and clean, and I hope we can do it by tomorrow."
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "A jury convicted TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley of financial fraud and tax evasion. They were cheating and stealing to buy luxury cars and clothes. Then their daughter campaigned for Trump. This pardon is a get-out-of-jail-free card for the rich & famous who cozy up to Trump."
Alex Little, an attorney representing the family in a statement: "This 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."
Joy Behar, a co-host of The View, said this week: "According to this administration, if you are a reality star with a lot of money and a tax cheat and you create fraud, then that's good, we're going to give you a pardon. But poor people on Medicaid or food stamps, according to this administration, those are the real moochers in this country."
What Happens Next
The Chrisleys have been released from prison. People magazine reported that Lifetime has greenlit a new show focusing on the family.
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