Todd and Julie Chrisley have been awarded $1 million after suing a Georgia tax official for investigating what the couple called “bogus” claims about them.
“We have been saying for months that the criminal case against the Chrisleys was highly unusual and had real problems,” the family’s attorney, Alex Little, said in a statement to People Tuesday while announcing the news of the “encouraging” settlement.
Little added, “It’s nearly unprecedented for one arm of the government to pay money to defendants when another arm is fighting to keep them in jail,” referring to his clients’ ongoing prison sentences for bank fraud and tax evasion.
In their 2019 suit, the former “Chrisley Knows Best” stars had accused Joshua Waites, a former director of special investigations at Georgia’s Department of Revenue, of “specifically targeting” them in the state’s tax evasion case against them.
After being cleared by Georgia, Todd and Julie sued Waites, describing their situation as a “shocking example of how an out-of-control public servant can abuse his office and violate the rights of innocent citizens for reasons that have more to do with securing publicity and money for his office than with enforcing the law.”
The pair further alleged that Waites had focused “his efforts and desire” on them as well as Todd’s estranged daughter, Lindsie Chrisley.
Todd and Julie claimed at the time that Waites had targeted Lindsie to try to get her to reveal compromising information about her dad and stepmother’s finances.
The lawsuit also included “compromising” text messages that Waites had allegedly sent Lindsie about Todd and Julie.
A rep for the Georgia Department of Revenue subsequently insisted its “investigators are fair and impartial,” but acknowledged that the Chrisleys’ revelations were “disappointing.”
While Todd, 54, and Julie, 51, were cleared by the state, a federal jury found them guilty in 2022. The reality stars reported to prison last January to begin their collective 19-year sentences, which since have been reduced.
The Chrisleys’ attorney didn’t immediately respond to Pvnew’s request for comment, nor did the Georgia Department of Revenue.
