Joe Giudice Opens Up About Teresa's Time in Prison: "I Was Supposed to Go Away, Not Her"

In 2014, both Teresa Giudice and Joe Giudice pled guilty to conspiracy and bankruptcy fraud charges, which resulted in prison sentences for the Real Housewives of New Jersey couple. As Teresa continues to serve her term at a Danbury, Conn. facility, Joe sat down on Today and reflected on the events that led to their sentencing. "No, of course it's not worth it," he told Today host Tamron Hall. "It's not that I'm not saying I didn't do anything wrong or illegal, but it was definitely people behind talking to them and telling them we did this and telling but then we did that to bring it to their attention and being in the public eye didn't help."

The family will take fans inside their world during the three-part special Real Housewives of New Jersey Teresa Checks In (Sunday, October 11 at 8/7c), which will follow the Giudices during Teresa's time away. Even today, Joe can't wrap his head around the fact that his wife is even behind bars. "Well I was to blame, sure. I took full responsibility for everything, but they still put her away," he said. "[I] absolutely [feel guilty]. I was supposed to go away, not her. And that was part of the plea, what I thought anyway. I don't know what happened in the court room that day... I feel like somebody just snapped my neck that day. I felt the pain, the chill going down my spine. I couldn't believe it."

He noted that the events that led to their convictions happened "prior" to joining RHONJ. "I didn't anticipate going on this show. I didn't want to go on this show, number one. They were bothering us for over a year. We just thought we were going to do it and it was gonna be like no big deal," he said. "And that's how we ended up here." He added, "I was just signing my name... I wasn't an accountant. I wasn't a mortgage person. I wasn't a banker."

Joe wouldn't address a possible deportation following his 41-month term, and also said that he hasn't focused too much on his own prison sentence, sharing, "because if you do that you're just going to drive yourself crazy and there's no point."

During the candid chat, Joe also slammed reports that he's been unfaithful to Teresa following a report that he was seen with another woman earlier this year, who he says was out with someone else when he was photographed with her. "What's the truth? I don't date anybody," he said. "I don't go on dates. None of that's true."