Though Todd and Julie Chrisley may think the outlook on their appeal looks bleak, their daughter Savannah Chrisley is offering them words of encouragement to help keep their fight going.
On the latest episode of her Unlocked podcast, the Chrisley Knows Best alum, 26, gave fans an update ahead of her parents’ oral arguments on Friday, April 19, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Savannah went on to explain that she was “grateful” for her family’s opportunity to make their case to the judge even if Todd and Julie weren’t confident in the outcome.
“I just keep telling my parents like, stand strong, stand firm. Don’t give up,” she shared. “It’s so hard for them because they just have no faith in what’s happening so it’s hard for them to stay positive.”
When Todd and Julie lose hope, Savannah revealed that’s when she tries her best to “stay as positive as possible and I try to educate myself.”
“It’s just so hard knowing that it could not go in our direction and that’s a tough pill to swallow,” she continued. “But at the same time if it doesn’t go in our direction we have other avenues to take.”
Todd, 55, and Julie, 51, were indicted in August 2019 for 12 counts of bank and wire fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy, all of which they have denied. The couple was cleared of their state tax evasion charge in Georgia in October 2019 but continued to face federal charges for allegedly evading federal taxes. They were sentenced that November to a combined 19 years in prison. And despite having begun the process of appealing the case, they reported to prison in January 2023.
PEOPLE confirmed in September 2023 that Todd and Julie’s prison sentences had been reduced with Todd leaving nearly two years before his original 12-year sentence was meant to conclude and Julie leaving 14 months before her seven-year sentence. Their attorneys are set to argue Todd and Julie’s case before a judge in Georgia on April 19, which Savannah previously indicated brings them “one step closer to getting mom and dad home.”
Earlier this month, Savannah admitted there were times that she felt like she was “struggling to come up for air” as she balances taking care of her younger siblings and her parents’ legal matters.
“I think what’s tough for me is how Mom and Dad feel like, you know, they have that feeling that life is just continuing to move on without them,” she revealed on the Unlocked podcast, noting how she’s also felt like her loved ones have continued “living their life” without a care in the world.
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When Savannah gets to a point where she feels “I can come up for air,” she confessed she often feels like “another blow hits” and she remains stuck in the “same place.”
“I do all I can to focus on the kids and myself and that’s about it,” she said, adding that she’s also working with lawyers to get her parents back home to her list.