A senior White House official with longstanding ties to "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice is addressing whether her ex-husband, Joe Giudice, deserves a second chance, while emphasizing that any presidential pardon decision rests solely with President Donald Trump.
Lynne Patton, deputy assistant to the president for coalition policy and engagement, took to Instagram to explain why Teresa Giudice and her daughter, Gia Giudice, were invited to the White House for Columbus Day and Italian-American heritage celebrations.
Patton's comments about Joe, who was deported to Italy after serving time for fraud-related offenses, also addressed the family's efforts to secure a presidential pardon.
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Patton emphasized that she has no authority over presidential pardons but offered a personal message about redemption and second chances.
"For those inquiring @teresagiudice and her daughter, @_giagiudice, were at the White House at the invitation of the President & First Lady in honor of Columbus Day & Italian-American heritage. I have known Teresa and her family, including @joe.giudice, for nearly two decades," Patton began her post.
"I’ve attended family gatherings at their former New Jersey homes where Joe taught me how to roll meatballs & Teresa’s beloved father once showed me how to make his famous homemade wine. I am not in charge of pardons. Nor do I decide who receives them."
She added, "That is the President’s sole decision based upon recommendations from the White House Pardon Czar, @alicemariefree, and White House Counsel."
Patton then shared her own experience with addiction and the second chance she said the Trump family gave her.
Patton said she relapsed into cocaine addiction while working at the Trump Organization in 2013, crediting Eric Trump and Lara Trump with staging an intervention that she said saved her life.
Her experience, she said, shaped her belief in second chances.
"To date, I have been drug free for 13 years. They could have fired me. But instead, they told me that I was worth saving. Even when I didn’t believe that myself. Instead of sidelining me, they gave me more responsibility. I worked harder. Stayed in the office longer. Arrived earlier. More importantly, I earned back their trust & friendship. In turn, that translated into more self-confidence and earned promotions — including a personal request from their father to join him in DC. It rebuilt my determination to succeed & help others do the same."
Patton also cited her Christian faith and the importance of a father's presence in his children's lives.
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"With that said, my faith in God compels me to believe that a father’s place is in the home. Statistics confirm the same. More importantly, so does the bible. Charlie Kirk often declared that the biblical role of the father to his child is to be their protector, both physically & spiritually. Quality time is everything. And no, it is never too late to be the provider who God intended every father to be," Patton added.
"Do I believe that Joe deserves a second chance? Unfortunately, it is not my place to decide. But what I do know is that one of his beautiful daughters desperately needs him now more than ever. And even God supports that."
Joe was deported to Italy in 2019 after serving 41 months in federal prison for financial crimes. He has been living in the Bahamas, while his four daughters remain in the United States.
Gia has publicly advocated for her father's return to the United States. Joe sought a presidential pardon in June 2025, and Gia said in August 2026 that the family had filed a humanitarian packet as part of its efforts to bring him home.
A presidential pardon would not automatically guarantee Joe's return to the United States. According to the Justice Department, a pardon can eliminate certain grounds for deportation, but its immigration consequences depend on the circumstances of the case.
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Members of the Giudice family commented on Patton's post, with Joe writing, "Your [sic] the best ❤️❤️❤️❤️."
Gia wrote, "thank you Lynn♥️🙏🏼," while her sister Milania commented, "thank you so much ❤️."
Teresa wrote, "We go way back ❤️," adding, "Love you ❤️."
However, Patton's remarks drew mixed reactions from Instagram users.
One Instagram user wrote, "What a beautiful post! That man did his time! Let him come home to his beautiful daughters!! Where he belongs!!!"
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Another wrote, "He is a convicted felon who could have legalized citizenship years ago. Sorry but this nepotism and bravolebrity entitlement does not put him above the law."
Patton's Instagram post included photos documenting her ties to the Giudice family and the Trump administration. One image showed Patton posing for a mirror selfie at what appeared to be the White House. Another showed Teresa and Gia seated on an ornate blue-and-gold sofa inside a formal White House room.
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The post also included older photos of Patton with members of the Giudice family, including Joe, and the Trump family, including Lara.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Patton and Teresa for comment.