Politics
Ellis admits aiding false statements in Trump election scheme
By Jake Beardslee · October 24, 2023
In brief…
- Jenna Ellis admitted guilt for helping spread false information related to the 2020 Georgia election.
- As part of her plea deal, Ellis agreed to assist prosecutors and pay $5,000 in restitution.
- She emotionally expressed regret for her involvement in Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the election.
- Ellis is the latest Trump attorney, after Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, to plead guilty in this case.
- Ellis implicated Rudy Giuliani in making false claims and cannot post about the case on social media.
On Tuesday, former Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis admitted guilt to assisting in spreading false information in the Georgia election interference case. As part of a plea agreement, Ellis has agreed to work with Fulton County prosecutors, who suggested 5 years probation and a $5,000 penalty for her actions.
While pleading guilty, Ellis emotionally denounced her involvement in Donald Trump’s efforts to reverse the 2020 election outcome, tearfully addressing the judge. “If I knew then what I knew now, I would have declined to represent Donald Trump in these post-challenges. I look back on this experience with deep remorse,” Ellis said, her voice breaking. “I failed to do my due diligence.”
Ellis said that after the 2020 election, “I believed that challenging the results on behalf of President Trump should be pursued in a just and legal way…I endeavored to represent my client to the best of my ability.”
Ellis’ admission of guilt follows guilty pleas last week from other Trump attorneys Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro in the Georgia case. In her plea agreement, Ellis implicated former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, acknowledging she assisted his spreading of “false statements” of voter fraud to Georgia lawmakers in December 2020.
Ellis admitted to helping Giuliani and fellow Trump lawyer Ray Smith during a legislative hearing to promote unproven voter fraud claims. While Giuliani and Smith have pleaded not guilty, Ellis cannot post about the case on social media per her plea agreement. Separately in Colorado, Ellis conceded making many false post-election statements and faced disciplinary action.
Despite being indicted, Ellis continues supporting Ron DeSantis for the 2024 GOP nomination. She criticized the lack of aid from pro-Trump groups and has raised over $216,000 online.