Trump pardons: Todd and Julie Chrisley, health care tax cheat, Jan. 6 rioters
When will Todd and Julie Chrisley be released from prison in Pensacola, Florida, and Lexington, Kentucky? Reality TV stars were pardoned May 27, 2025.
- Trump pardoned reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted of financial crimes in 2022.
- Savannah Chrisley, daughter of Todd and Julie, endorsed Trump at 2024 Republican National Convention.
- The Chrisleys are among over 40 individuals pardoned by Trump in his second term, in addition to over 1,500 people pardoned in connection with Jan. 6 Capitol riots.
President Donald Trump said he is pardoning reality stars Todd and Julie Chrisley of "Chrisley Knows Best."
In a May 27 call to daughter Savannah Chrisley, Trump said the duo, convicted in 2022 of conspiring to defraud community banks, defraud the IRS and commit tax evasion, would be "free and clean." A video of the interaction was posted to X. Savannah Chrisley endorsed Trump at the Republican National Convention in July 2024, claiming both her parents and Trump faced a "two-faced justice system."
The Chrisleys will join more than 40 other people who have been granted clemency by the president in his second administration, in addition to more than 1,500 people charged in relation to the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol who also received clemency. Here is what to know:
What does pardon mean?
A pardon is an expression of forgiveness that eases the consequences of a criminal conviction, according to the DOJ.
A pardon and a commutation of a sentence are both ways for the president to grant leniency to someone who has committed a federal crime. Both are known as clemency.
A pardon often implies that the convicted person has taken responsibility for their actions and is forgiven by the president. It can restore some civil abilities that would otherwise be barred due to the criminal conviction, according to the DOJ.
Who else has President Donald Trump pardoned?
In addition to those convicted in the Jan. 6 riots, Trump has granted clemency, including pardons and sentence commutations, to 44 people before the Chrisleys. In his first term, he granted 238 clemency acts, according to Pew Research Center, which also found former President Joe Biden had granted more clemency acts than any other president on record with 4,245 acts.
Some recent Trump pardons that made headlines include:
- Paul Walczak - the son of a wealthy Republican donor who was convicted of tax evasion for siphoning more than $10.9 million in payroll taxes from the paychecks of doctors and nurses. He had been sentenced to 18 months in prison.
- Michele Fiore, a former Las Vegas City Councilwoman who was convicted of federal charity fraud after misusing donations for a planned police memorial. She had not been sentenced when she was pardoned.
- Scott Jenkins, a former Virginia sheriff convicted of bribery in what prosecutors called a "cash-for-badges scheme.” He was set to start a 10-year prison sentence on May 27, 2025.
Trump pardons Jan. 6 rioters. List of those at Jan. 6 Capitol riots with ties to Florida
More than 140 people with Florida connections were charged in the Capitol riots and subsequently pardoned. Some of the Florida people involved who received the harshest punishment also had their sentences commuted, including:
- Enrique Torres of Miami, the national chairman of the Proud Boys who had the longest conviction of any Jan. 6 defendant at 22 years
- Joseph Biggs of Ormond Beach, also a leader of the Proud Boys in Volusia County, was convicted of seditious conspiracy; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of an official proceeding; conspiracy to use force, intimidation or threats to prevent officers of the United States from discharging their duties; interference with law enforcement during a civil disorder; and destruction of government property. He had been sentenced to 17 years in prison.
- Kenneth Harrelson of Titusville, associated with the Oath Keepers, was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging duties, and tampering with documents or proceedings, and had been sentenced to four years in prison and two years supervised release.
- Kelly Meggs of Dunnellon, part of the Oath Keepers, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging duties, and tampering with documents or proceedings. He had been sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
- David Moerschel of Punta Gorda, also associated with the Oath Keepers, was found guilty of seditious conspiracy among other charges. He had been sentenced to three years in prison and 3 years of supervised release.
- Joseph Hackett of Sarasota, also associated with the Oath Keepers, was found guilty by a jury of seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of an official proceeding; and conspiracy to prevent members of Congress from discharging their official duties; and destruction of evidence He had been sentenced to 42 months in prison and three years supervised release.
Contributing: Jeffrey Meehan, Reno Gazette Journal; Hannah Phillips, Palm Beach Post; Bart Jansen, KiMi Robinson, Jay Stahl, Paste BN; C.A. Bridges, Paste BN Network
Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the Paste BN Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.