Reality star Joe Giudice, who was deported from the United States back to his native Italy in 2019 after being convicted on federal fraud charges asked President Donald Trump for a pardon on Thursday.
“President Trump, I respect you and I’m asking for a second chance,” Giudice wrote on Instagram, along with the hashtag “PardonJoeGiudice.”
Newsweek reached out to representatives for Giudice for comment.
Why It Matters
Giudice rose to fame alongside his now ex-wife Teresa Giudice on Bravo’s Real Housewives of New Jersey. Teresa also appeared on the fifth season of The Celebrity Apprentice, which was hosted by Trump.
Trump pardoned reality stars Todd and Julie Chrisley last month. The Chrisley Knows Best couple was convicted on fraud and tax evasion charges.
What To Know
In 2014, Joe and Teresa each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of bankruptcy fraud by concealment of assets, one count of bankruptcy fraud by false oaths and one count of bankruptcy fraud by false declarations. Joe also pleaded guilty to one count of failure to file a tax return.
Teresa was sentenced to 15 months in prison, while Joe was sentenced to 41 months.
After Joe completed his sentence, he was deported to Italy. Joe was born in Italy and moved to New Jersey when he was 1 years old. He never obtained U.S. citizenship. He has since relocated to the Bahamas.
Teresa and Joe, who share four daughters, finalized their divorce in 2020.
Joe’s Instagram post, which currently has over 38,000 likes, is captioned: “I’m Joe Guidice. I served my time, and I’ve been deported from the U.S. for nearly a decade. I was raised in Jersey. I’m a father of four amazing daughters and I just want to be allowed to visit them again. President Trump, I respect you and I’m asking for a second chance. @realdonaldtrump @donaldtrumpjr.”
Teresa commented on Joe’s post on Thursday with prayer hands and heart emojis.
“I love you dad,” Milania Giudice, Joe and Teresa’s daughter, wrote.
Their oldest daughter Gia Giudice also wrote, “I love you.”
Fellow Real Housewives of New Jersey stars Siggy Flicker and Jen Aydin shared supportive comments on Joe’s post.
“I’m trying. Joe should be back home with his beautiful daughters,” wrote Flicker, who was appointed to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s board of trustees by Trump.
Earlier this year, Joe Guidice appeared on his ex-wife Teresa Guidice’s podcast Turning the Tables where he spoke about fighting his deportation.
“I got a lawyer working on something, but she’s been working on it and hasn’t done anything yet, so, I don’t know, we’ll see. I did get in front of the embassy and they denied me…and that was it. I paid a bunch of money for that, so…I went, and it took not even five minutes and they denied it, so I’m done with this crap. It is what it is.”
What People Are Saying
Joe Guidice said earlier this year on his ex-wife Teresa Guidice’s podcast Turning the Tables about missing the U.S.: “Well, I mean, you got friends, family. I mean, everything. You grow up someplace, you get used to everything. I mean, that’s why I adapt[ed] here in the Bahamas, Nassau, because it’s kind of like Americanized, and I always see American people here. So, I kind of feel like I’m close to home. When I was in Italy, it wasn’t really the same. It was nice, but it just felt far. Like, here, it’s close. It’s only two-and-a-half hours away, and I guess because everybody comes and visits me, I don’t feel like I’m too far.”
What Happens Next?
Trump has not commented publicly on whether he will pardon Joe.
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