The Chrisleys are fighting back.
Todd Chrisley and wife Julie Chrisley have filed a lawsuit against the state of Georgia’s tax investigator, claiming he used his power to “aggressively pursue and prosecute bogus tax evasion claims against the Chrisleys,” according to legal documents obtained by Page Six. Earlier this month, the Chrisleys settled allegations that they failed to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in income taxes to Georgia, paying a little under $150,000 to resolve the situation.
The reality TV couple alleges Director Joshua Waites of the Georgia Department of Revenue’s Office of Special Investigation targeted Todd’s estranged daughter, Lindsie, in an effort to get her to reveal compromising information about Todd and Julie’s financials. They also claim when Lindsie didn’t give him the information he needed, Waites exposed her parents’ confidential tax information “in an effort to gain her trust or to intimidate her into cooperation.”
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, includes alleged text messages sent between Waites and Lindsie that show they remained in close contact for at least 18 months. The alleged texts also reveal the “compromising” information Waites told Lindsie.
“So the IRS completed there [sic] audit for the criminal side and then turned over the returns to us so we could bill them as well,” Waites allegedly texted. “The Feds are pushing it because they are saying the 75 million deal is for real. Including a show for your grandma by herself.”
In another text message exchange, Waites appeared to ask Lindsie to open up about her estranged father.
“So. Some stuff happened today and we have a meeting the first of the year that is super big and is all about todd like serious,” he allegedly texted. “So. I want to know if you would be willing to talk about him or her.”
“What is it in regards to,” Lindsie purportedly responded.
“What do you think,” he wrote back. “So. It will be a Fed and state meeting hosted by the Feds.”
Todd, 50, and Julie, 46, are asking for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney’s fees; however, they’ve pledged to donate any funds they recover in damages to programs designed to assist Georgia taxpayers who have suffered similar treatment.
A rep for the Georgia Department of Revenue’s Office told Page Six in a statement: “Our investigators are fair and impartial in their work with a commitment to ensuring compliance with the law. In accordance with state law and as a matter of standard protocol, the Department cannot comment on the specifics of any investigation, settlement, or pending litigation. This development is disappointing and their accusations are unfounded, but we will decline to provide any further comment on this matter.”