Jenna Ellis, a co-defendant with Donald Trump in the Georgia election controversy, became the fourth person to plead guilty in the case involving attempted interference in the 2020 election.
Ellis, whom Trump referred to as part of his “truly great team” of private lawyers in November 2020, traveled across the country promoting unfounded claims of election fraud, holding press conferences, and meeting with state lawmakers. She was initially charged as part of a broader racketeering conspiracy with asking Georgia state lawmakers to violate their oaths of office by appointing fake presidential electors to support Trump, despite him losing the state to President Joe Biden.
Speaking in an Atlanta courtroom, Ellis portrayed herself as an inexperienced attorney who had fallen for Trump’s narrative. Ellis pleaded guilty to a felony, aiding and abetting false statements and writings. She agreed to five years of probation and to pay $5,000 in restitution. Her agreement falls under Georgia’s First Offender Act, which means the conviction will be expunged from her record if she completes the probation period.
Ellis stated that she relied on other, more experienced lawyers to provide accurate and reliable information while challenging the results of the 2020 election. She admitted that she didn’t fact-check the claims made by others. She apologized to the people of Georgia.
“I believe in and I value election integrity,” Ellis said tearfully, reading a statement. “If I knew then what I know now, I would have declined to represent Donald Trump in these post-election challenges. I look back on this whole experience with deep remorse.”
Ellis’ plea could offer powerful testimony during trials since she met with key players in the alleged racketeering conspiracy that aimed to keep Trump in power.
Alyssa Farah Griffin, former Trump White House communications director, stated that Ellis’ plea demonstrates that the election protests were “all a lie & the public was deceived.”
Ellis is one of 19 co-defendants charged in the case, which alleges a broad racketeering conspiracy. The indictment described a conspiracy that included the recruitment of fake presidential electors to vote for Trump, lying about election results to state officials and in court records, and soliciting public officials to violate their oaths of office.
Sidney Powell, who had claimed widespread election fraud, pleaded guilty last Thursday to one count of conspiracy to commit theft and five counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with the performance of election duties. Powell agreed to testify in future trials in exchange for serving six years of probation, a $6,000 fine, and paying $2,700 in restitution.
Kenneth Chesebro, another lawyer who developed the scheme to recruit fake presidential electors for Trump, pleaded guilty on Friday.
Another co-defendant, bail bondsman Scott Hall, pleaded guilty last month to five misdemeanors and also agreed to testify against others.
Ellis had previously been censured by the Colorado bar for making ten false statements about the election. The indictment outlined her involvement in the conspiracy, including attending news conferences making false claims about election fraud and meeting with state lawmakers to encourage them to appoint fake presidential electors supporting Trump.
