Julie Chrisley Reveals Her Health Battle in Prison Before Donald Trump's Pardon

Julie Chrisley says she developed asthma and struggled to breathe while serving time in a federal facility, describing the environment as so deteriorated she felt physically "unsafe."

Julie and Todd Chrisley, former stars of the reality show "Chrisley Knows Best," have spoken out in one of their first interviews since being released from federal prison. The couple, who were pardoned by President Donald Trump in May 2025, detailed the challenges they faced behind bars — including mold, poor medical care, and, in Julie's case, serious health decline.

During the ABC News interview, Julie reflected on her time at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. When asked whether she ever felt unsafe, she replied, "No, I didn't feel unsafe or threatened that someone was going to do harm to me. I felt unsafe because of the conditions."

She continued, "I developed asthma and I have horrible breathing issues that I never had going in. I could see my health deteriorating."

The couple served just over two years after being convicted on federal charges including bank fraud and tax evasion. Originally sentenced to a combined 19 years, they were granted clemency after Trump included them on a high-profile list of presidential pardons in the spring of 2025.

Todd, who served time in a Florida facility, alleged that black mold, asbestos, and lead-based paint were present in his dorm. "It was bad," he said during the televised interview. "It was a former military base that the Bureau of Prisons had not taken care of."

He stated that there were malfunctioning air conditioning units, inoperable ice machines, and windows that were "screwed shut." He also claimed some of the food served to inmates was long past its shelf life. According to Entertainment Tonight, Todd survived mostly on canned tuna and peanut butter from the commissary.

However, despite the conditions they were facing, the couple tried to maintain structure. Julie worked daily, even learning to operate a forklift. "I absolutely did," she said, smiling. "I stayed busy every day… I was going to keep my mind active, my body active because I knew I was getting out."

Todd, who lost weight and gained muscle during his sentence, added that exercise helped him preserve his sanity. "I stayed in a routine," he said. "I got up. I showered. I shaved. I put on my clothes. And then I went [and] worked out. It was my saving grace."

The couple said they are now turning their attention toward prison reform. Julie noted that she met women she plans to stay in contact with for life. "I have met some amazing women," she told ABC. "I've met some women that I will be friends with till the day that I die."

Although critics have questioned the merit of the Chrisleys' presidential pardons, particularly since their convictions were upheld on appeal, the couple maintain they were wronged. Todd questioned the jury makeup in their case and compared their clemency to that of others granted similar relief.

"I don't have an apology to give you or anyone else over the money that I've made," he stated. As for how they handle public criticism, Todd insisted his self-worth remains intact. "No one's opinion of me has ever caused me to question who I am at the core," he said. "So I don't worry about someone else's opinion."

Shortly after they were pardoned by Trump and released from prison, their son, 29-year-old Chase Chrisley, revealed during an interview that he was overjoyed to be reunited with his parents. He spoke with Entertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier in May, describing how the experience had affected his family.

Their chat begins with Kevin asking Chase to recount the moment his family became whole again. "Man," Chase began, becoming visibly emotional. "It was a beautiful moment. I don't think it really hit me until they were both home."

Chase remembered how he got to see his parents embrace once again. "We're all hugging each other and crying. [...] It was just a beautiful moment, and answered prayers for sure, I mean, I can't even describe it—the amount of joy that I felt," he told Kevin.

Kevin then noted that Julie and Todd barely had any contact while they were imprisoned; however, Chase shared that they did communicate via email, though it was a lengthy process.

"The only contact that they had was through emails, which the B.O.P. delayed for weeks on end," he said. Chase explained that Todd would send an email to his wife, and she wouldn't receive it until two to three weeks afterward. "It was impossible to have a conversation," he noted.

When asked how Julie and Todd reacted when they first saw each other, Chase replied, "They both just burst into tears, and my dad wrapped his arms around my mom, and I don't think he's let go. And I don't think he'll ever let go."

Chase also spoke about how much his parents' appearances had changed post-prison. The 28-year-old described his mother as "an angel" and said she was "still beautiful." He also noted that her hair was darker and had suggested she dye it back to blonde.

"And she was like, 'I'm not doing that.' And my dad is just jacked,'" Chase continued, adding that his father had been hitting the gym every day while serving his time.

When asked if fitness was something Todd would still commit to after his release, Chase replied, "For sure, and unfortunately, I think he's going to make me do it with him." He added he was not a fan of the gym, but said he would still join his dad on his fitness journey.

Later in the interview, Chase shared how he found out his parents had been pardoned. "I was actually working. That's when I got the call and I was like, 'I gotta go.' And I was just—I was in tears, I was in shock. I couldn't believe it."

His sister, Savannah, also praised the president for granting their pardons after serving more than two years in federal prison.