Todd Chrisley addresses tax evasion allegations on podcast: 'My ex-wife played a part in some of this'
Todd and Julie Chrisley didn't let a federal indictment stop them from podcasting. The Chrisley Knows Best stars, who are out on bond, addressed their situation Wednesday on Chrisley Confessions as they said they owed their fans transparency.
Julie began by admitting the last week has been "troublesome." Aside from being accused of some serious financial crimes, it was revealed Todd's 29-year-old daughter Lindsie accused her father and half-brother, Chase, of extortion over an alleged sex tape.
"Clearly, it's all over the news that we have been charged with tax evasion and bank fraud," Todd began, saying their not guilty plea "stands for what it stands for."
"I want you all to know that we stand steadfast in our faith and in our belief system," he added. "We pray every day for the prosecutors here, we pray that there's transparency and that they get to see through the evidence that our attorneys have collected over the many years, that these allegations are not true."
"Now, as far as our oldest daughter Lindsie goes," he continued, "I will say to you that we are saying nothing other than that we love Lindsie. She will always be my daughter, that will never change, she is my first-born child. She is loved and this is her moment for her to say whatever she wants to say, regardless of whether or not it's true or not."
Todd ended up having a lot more to say about Lindsie, who along with Kyle, are his children from his first marriage to Teresa Chrisley Terry.
"[Lindsie] is forgiven," Todd exclaimed. "She's forgiven for what has happened in the last week-to-ten days, she's forgiven for what has happened in the investigation that she has contributed to. She is forgiven for what she is going to do today or tomorrow."
In July, Lindsie filed a police report claiming Todd and her half-brother Chase harassed and threatened her over a purported sex tape involving her and Bachelorette star, Robby Hayes. She claimed her family "wanted her to lie about an incident" related to the crimes her dad and stepmother now face. If she didn't comply, "they were going to release the sex tape involving her," she alleged. Todd and Chase have denied any wrongdoing.
"At the end of the day, I'm her father and clearly the feelings that I have had for [Lindsie] her entire life are not reciprocal and for that, that's heartbreaking," Todd shared. "But at the end of the day I know what kind of parent I've been, I know what I do, I know what I say."
Todd continued, "So, what I would say is in the coming months, there are going to be a lot of things that are revealed. There are going to be a lot of things that are revealed with how we go to where we are... with the IRS and how my ex-wife played a part in some of this with her knowledge of being a whistleblower and contacting Kyle and his ex-wife, making them aware that they should turn us in because they could collect 30 percent of anything the IRS collects. All of that's going to come out." (Yahoo Entertainment cannot verify Todd's claims.)
The reality star then brought it back to his estranged daughter.
"If you notice, we have not made any statements other than that we love Lindsie and that we don't understand it," he explained. "So, what I would say is, be careful about accusing me of something because there's truth behind anything that I've done. So, if I chapped your a** because of something you did that was shameful and that we did not approve of and you got made because we did not stand beside you in that situation..."
It's unclear what Todd is referring to, but it's likely the purported sex tape. In a statement last week, Todd claimed Lindsie had extramarital affairs with Hayes and Bachelorette star, Josh Murray. (Hayes denied making a sex tape, per say, but said he and Lindsie "got caught" on "a puppy camera in her friend’s living room.")
Todd then accused Lindsie of planting stories about the family in tabloids, specifically with her "friend" at Radar Online.
"We haven't gone to a tabloid and told the stories of the facts of what truly has happened within our family because I have been embarrassed and ashamed of it," he continued. "It is a shame that I have raised five children and that the jealousy, the greed and the backstabbing that has been exhibited towards a sibling is unconscionable."
Todd and Julie have three children together: Chase, 23, Savannah, 22, and Grayson, 13.
"So with that being said, I think I've said all I'm gonna say, other than Chase has a mouth and when he is accused of something... he's going to snap back," he added. "[Chase has] been told to shut his mouth — just like I've told Lindsie to shut hers, like I've told Savannah to shut hers. I have text messages to where I've told them all to shut up, they are going to be ashamed when something happens to [one] of them and then you can't turn around and say, 'I'm sorry' because it's too late."
"I'm going to finish this rant by saying I love all of my children," Todd stated, before shifting the topic of conversation to his 27-year-old son, Kyle.
Kyle is in Nashville, according to his father, and is "in therapy" trying "to get to where he needs to get to." Part of that is "him confessing to the sins he has committed and the mistakes he has made towards his family. He has started that process." After years of being estranged, Kyle revealed last week that he made amends with his father earlier this year.
Todd concluded by explaining his children are "grown" and that he is "no longer accountable to their sins as they are no longer accountable for mine."
"So, I love you Lindsie, I know you're listening to this podcast, I know that your attorney is listening to it, so I wish you both a wonderful, wonderful afternoon," he said. "I love you, I forgive you and I pray that God moves you on in prosperous way and blesses you from this day forward."
Earlier this week, Lindsie’s attorney told E! News she is open to reconciling with her family.
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