Trump's Celebrity Pardons: A Closer Look

The latest round of presidential pardons has stirred up quite a bit of talk. Among the recipients were a few well-known faces. Todd and Julie Chrisley, stars of the reality TV show "Chrisley Knows Best, " were released from prison. They had been serving time for financial crimes. The couple was found guilty of tricking banks out of $36 million and dodging taxes for years. Todd got 12 years, and Julie got 7. The president's reasoning? He believed they were targeted because of their fame. Another big name on the list was rapper NBA YoungBoy. He was let off the hook for having guns, which is a no-no for someone with a criminal past. He was supposed to serve two years, but the pardon changed that. He thanked the president, saying it gave him a chance to keep building his life and career. Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois, also got a pardon. He was in hot water for fraud, lying to the FBI, and trying to shake down people for money. He even competed on "Celebrity Apprentice" while waiting for his sentence. This wasn't his first time getting a break from the president, though. His sentence was shortened back in 2020. Jay Johnston, an actor known for "Anchorman" and "Mr. Show, " was also pardoned. He was part of the group involved in the January 6, 2021, events at the U. S. Capitol. He was sentenced to over a year in prison for getting in the way of officers. Even before his sentencing, he lost a role in "Bob's Burgers. " Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, both big names in hip-hop, were also on the list. Lil Wayne got in trouble for having a gun on a plane. Kodak Black was caught lying to get guns. Both were pardoned at the end of the president's first term. Lil Wayne even started his own record label. These pardons have raised some eyebrows. Some people wonder if these celebrities got special treatment. Others think the president was just trying to help out people he felt were unfairly punished. Either way, it's clear that fame can sometimes lead to unexpected breaks.