Todd & Julie Chrisley’s Lawyer Issues Warning Over Trump Pardons
In May, President Donald Trump pardoned Todd and Julie Chrisley from their combined 19-year federal prison sentence for bank and tax fraud, and, in doing so, set off a chain reaction for the couple’s attorney.
Jay Surgent, one of the lawyers who represented the reality stars, spoke with The New York Post about the pardon and how it has led to him being inundated with calls and emails from other families seeking the same for their incarcerated loved ones. But he also issued a warning that non-celebrities should not expect the same reaction from Trump.
“My business has been great,” Surgent told the outlet. “I’m looking at eight major cases that came in from across the United States by the sheer fact that my name was mentioned many times with the Chrisleys.”
The New Jersey-based attorney said the calls had been non-stop, joking, “I cannot believe what my phone looked like after [Todd & Julie] got out… I think I’ve got to get a new cell phone. This is ridiculous.”
“I could be on the phone two o’clock in the morning making phone calls for people that have literally sent me out packets saying, ‘This is my uncle’s federal case, they’re away, and please do this,'” he explained, adding that he receives “three to five hundred emails a day.”
Todd and Julie were released from prison on Wednesday, May 28, after being pardoned by President Trump. The Chrisley Knows Best stars had previously been convicted of bank and tax fraud, with Todd sentenced to 12 years at FPC Pensacola and Julie given a seven-year sentence at FMC Lexington.
Surgent represented the couple through their trials and appeals but told the Post, “I really believe that I turned, believe it or not, more into a publicist as opposed to an attorney,” adding that he had no issue with that.
However, while things might have ended on a happy note for the Chrisleys, Surgent warned that Trump isn’t likely to hand out pardons for those without the public profile of reality television stars.
“Most of the stuff is people that are unknown,” Surgent said of the cases he’s been given, noting that Trump isn’t likely to provide pardons to gang leaders, violent criminals, and drug dealers.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, May 30, Todd promised he would continue to fight for justice for his former inmates.
“I have met some wonderful men. I have listened to some horrific stories about things that have gone on in our system,” Todd stated. “I will continue to fight for all of the guys that I dealt with and that I was blessed to be with at FPC Pensacola. I will continue to expose the injustices that go on there and throughout the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).”
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Pardons for people who give large amounts of money to Trump only.
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The lawyer "issued a warning that non-celebrities should not expect the same reaction from Trump."
Even a dense lawyer representing slimy fraudsters knows that Trump's attention only goes to "celebrities" or anyone with lots of money to donate. Because our 'president' has such high moral standards. 🙄
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Regardless of that parson, they would never have done their full sentence. Not even half.
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That was bound to happen. They never would've spent the full sentence anyway and there were problems with the case in general which will be sorted. Trump couldn't not pardon them when Savannah made it very public they were trying to get him to and she hasn't stopped working on getting them out since the start. She sacrificed a lot for it and now they'll be working to help others now that they've seen firsthand the injustices going on.
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Chrisleys are crooks and so is trump...the real God will eventually send the justice these awful people deserve..unless there is no God🤔
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This experience will be used for the good by the Chrisley’s. Even Paul was in prison nut God had a plan.
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If he truly has a plan then why are so many innocent men/women in jail fighting to get out yet 2 crooks are pardoned because of a $1 million dollar donation to the taco in D.C. Spare my God' plan crap. Two crooks got pardon by 1 crook. What I do believe in is KARMA and trust me that is in God's hand and that I believe.
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