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A man who claims he had an intimate relationship with Todd Chrisley said the reality star paid off a blackmailer who threatened to out him publicly.
Mark Braddock, Todd Chrisley's former lover and business partner, testified in Chrisley's federal tax fraud trial in Atlanta, Ga. on Tuesday. Chrisley and his wife, Julie, are on trial for income tax evasion.
Braddock testified that he and Chrisley had an intimate relationship for about a year in the early 2000s. He said the relationship ended and they remained brotherly friends until 2012 when Chrisley terminated his employment and threatened to call police.
Braddock immediately went to the feds and revealed Todd's criminal activity in exchange for immunity from prosecution.
During the time that Braddock worked for Chrisley's foreclosure management company, they began to receive anonymous text messages threatening to expose their relationship.
Braddock testified that one text message read, "Pay cash and we'll shut up," according to the report.
Braddock, who had access to Chrisley's bank accounts, claimed he withdrew four payments of $9,500, totaling $38,000, and gave the cash to Todd Chrisley to pay off the blackmailer.
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However, Chrisley's attorney, Bruce Morris, alleged in his opening statement that Braddock was "obsessed" with Todd and wanted to be him - and even impersonated him.
Todd and Julie, 49, were married for 26 years and share three adult children. Todd also has two kids with ex-wife Teresa Terry.
There has been a lot of speculation about Todd's sexuality, which he has consistently denied and even called the gay rumors "flattering".
"In order for it to disappoint me, it would mean that I don't agree with someone being gay," he said on "The Domenick Nati Show" in 2017.
"I don't believe that's a choice that you make. I believe that you are the way that God has made you."
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Todd added that he was "flattered that people think I can [go both ways]" and joked, "My wife certainly is flattered that as many men want her husband as there are women. With that being said, I'm never going to have a drought."
Both Chrisleys are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, five counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of tax fraud.
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Prosecutors allege the Chrisleys filed fake documents to get millions of dollars in bank loans, and also submitted a fake credit report and fake bank documents while trying to rent a house for $14,000 a month in California in 2014. The couple allegedly moved into the home then refused to pay rent after a few months.
The indictment alleges they lied about their income to avoid paying taxes to the IRS.
