Julie Chrisley Claims Prison Asbestos Exposure Led to Lingering Lung Condition
Julie Chrisley revealed she has developed a lung condition after spending 28 months at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Kai Montgomery here, your resident grumpy guru who really does not want to be the bearer of more celebrity woes, but apparently prison air can do a number on you. In a July 30 episode of the Chrisley Confessions podcast, the 52-year-old reality star accused the facility of leaving her breathing “asbestos,” and yes, fans may have noticed her huffing and puffing on camera.
Chrisley and her husband, Todd Chrisley, were released nearly two months ago after President Donald Trump granted them a full pardon for tax evasion and fraud convictions. She told listeners that the ailment emerged during her confinement and has persisted ever since. “I have a lung condition from being in prison,” Julie stated, admitting that at moments she struggles to catch a full breath. The couple, parents to Chase (29), Savannah (27), Grayson (19), and 12-year-old Chloe, have been candid about how the legal ordeal tested their family bonds.
Todd chimed in to clarify that Julie has not received a formal medical diagnosis yet and has scheduled an appointment with a pulmonologist to get to the bottom of her symptoms. In response to her claims, the Federal Bureau of Prisons emphasized to US Weekly that operating safe, secure, and humane facilities is their top priority. “We take seriously our duty to protect the individuals entrusted in our custody,” the agency said, adding they have not received any prior complaints regarding air quality at FMC Lexington. E! News has reached out to both the prison and the bureau for comment and is awaiting a reply.
Since walking free, Julie and Todd have reflected on how prison life changed them. During the July 23 podcast, Todd admitted that seeing Julie’s brunette locks in lockdown nearly made him consider turning himself back in just to see her. Back behind bars, Julie abandoned her signature blonde tresses, shrugging that she’d “let it grow out until I got home.” Friends urged her to freshen up, but she remained indifferent to appearances until release day.
Their legal saga began in August 2019, when a federal grand jury in Atlanta indicted the pair on 12 counts including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and tax evasion, as detailed by NBC News. Prosecutors alleged the Chrisleys evaded nearly $2 million in state taxes between 2008 and 2016 and hid over $1 million from the IRS. Todd initially insisted on Instagram that they had “nothing to hide” and blamed a “trusted employee” for any wrongdoing while promising substantial evidence to prove their innocence.
After a three-week federal trial in June 2022, Julie, Todd, and their accountant were found guilty on all counts for defrauding banks of more than $30 million. They began sentences at separate federal institutions before reuniting at Lexington’s medical center. Now pardoned and free, Julie’s unexpected lung troubles add yet another chapter to this family’s public roller-coaster. And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, US Weekly, NBC News
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
