The gates finally swung open. It wasn't the way anyone—prosecutors or fans—originally predicted. After 861 days of living in a reality that was a far cry from their $17 million Nashville mansion, Todd and Julie Chrisley are officially out.
If you've been following the saga of the Chrisley in prison timeline, you know it was a mess. It was messy, loud, and full of legal twists that felt like a scripted Season 10 finale of Chrisley Knows Best. But the reality was anything but scripted. It involved federal facilities with no air conditioning, mold, and a daughter, Savannah Chrisley, who basically turned into a full-time lobbyist to get her parents home.
On May 28, 2025, the wait ended. President Donald Trump signed the warrants. By the afternoon, the couple was walking free, leaving behind a combined sentence that was supposed to last nearly two decades.
The Reality of FPC Pensacola and FMC Lexington
Most people saw the Chrisleys on TV and thought they’d be in "Club Fed." That's a myth. Honestly, the conditions they faced were pretty grim. Savannah was very vocal about this on her Unlocked podcast, and while critics called it "complaining," the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) eventually confirmed some of it.
Todd was at FPC Pensacola in Florida. By late 2024, the government announced the facility was in such "significant disrepair" that it had to be closed and demolished. We’re talking about plumbing issues and heat that reached 115 degrees inside. Todd even lost his job at the prison chapel because, according to his lawyers, the administration felt he was "associating with inmates" in a way they didn't like.
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Julie had it just as bad. She was at FMC Lexington in Kentucky. While it's a medical center, the "medical" part didn't mean luxury. She spent her days learning to drive a forklift and serving food. It was a humbling season. She actually addressed the court in tears during a failed 2024 resentencing attempt, apologizing for the "actions and situations" that led them there.
What Really Happened With the Pardon?
The pardon didn't come out of nowhere. It was a calculated, relentless campaign. Savannah Chrisley didn't just post on Instagram; she went to CPAC, she appeared on Fox News with Lara Trump, and she worked directly with Alice Marie Johnson—the woman Trump famously pardoned after Kim Kardashian intervened.
The argument was simple: weaponization.
The Chrisley legal team claimed the Georgia Department of Revenue and federal prosecutors targeted them because of their conservative views. They pointed to an Office of Inspector General (OIG) report that suggested some evidence was handled improperly. Whether you believe they were "guilty as sin" or "targeted victims," the strategy worked.
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"It's a terrible thing, but it's a great thing, because your parents are going to be free and clean."
— Donald Trump during the call to the Chrisley children.
The 2026 Comeback: Life After the Bars
You might be wondering what they're doing now that the Chrisley in prison chapter is closed. They didn't waste any time.
Basically, the family is back on TV. They signed a deal with Lifetime for a docuseries that captures the actual moment Todd and Julie walked back into their home. It's a "warts and all" look at their reunification. It hasn't all been easy, though. After two years of not being allowed to speak to each other—not a single word—relearning how to be a married couple is a process.
Current Projects and News
- The Masked Singer: In early 2026, Todd and Julie shocked everyone by appearing on Season 14 as the "Croissants." They didn't win, but the publicity was massive.
- Julie’s Cooking Show: Julie is currently filming a new show where she actually prepares recipes she "perfected" while in prison. It’s a weird niche, but fans are watching.
- The Legal Hangover: While the prison time is over, the restitution is a different story. The $17.8 million order didn't just vanish with the pardon.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Case
A lot of people think they were just "rich people who didn't pay taxes." It was more complex. The core of the 2022 conviction was a $36 million bank fraud scheme. They were accused of using fake financial statements to get loans they couldn't pay back, then using those loans to fund the lifestyle we saw on TV.
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When the money ran out, they filed for bankruptcy to wipe the debt.
The pardon doesn't technically say they didn't do it. It just wipes the punishment. That’s a nuance that gets lost in the headlines. They are "free and clean" in the eyes of the law now, but the public perception remains split.
What’s Next for the Chrisley Family?
If you're looking for lessons from the Chrisley saga, it’s about the power of a platform. Savannah used her 2.7 million followers to keep her parents' names in the news every single week they were gone.
If you are following the family now, keep an eye on:
- The Lifetime Docuseries: Expect this to air mid-2026. It will cover the first 100 days post-release.
- The Podcast Network: Todd is expected to rejoin Chrisley Confessions soon, which will likely be the most-downloaded episodes in the show's history.
- Prison Reform Advocacy: Savannah has stated she isn't stopping just because her parents are home. She’s still working with senators to address the conditions at facilities like Pensacola.
The Chrisley story proves that in the world of celebrity and politics, "final" is a relative term. They went from the top of the world to a prison bunk and back to a TV set in under four years.
Next Steps for You
- Watch the Lifetime Premiere: Check your local listings for "The Untitled Chrisleys Project" to see the first footage of the family together.
- Listen to the Unlocked Podcast: Savannah's February 2026 episodes provide the most detail on how the pardon was negotiated.
- Follow the Restitution Case: Keep an eye on the civil courts to see how the $17 million debt is handled now that they are earning TV salaries again.