Jenna Ellis becomes 4th defendant to take plea deal in Georgia election case, regrets representing Trump
Former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis became the fourth defendant to plead guilty in the sprawling racketeering election interference case in Georgia, tearfully admitting Tuesday that she made up details about election fraud and saying she regretted representing the former president.
She is pleading guilty to one count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings, and will receive probation in exchange for her testimony in the case.
The plea agreement makes her the fourth defendant in the case to take a deal, and the third former Trump attorney to do so in just the last few days.
"If I knew then what I know now, I would have declined to represent Donald Trump, in these post-election challenges," Ellis said through tears while standing before the judge. "I look back on this whole experience with deep remorse."
Ellis admitted she made false statements that thousands of ballots were counted illegally in the 2020 election; that thousands of felons voted illegally; and that thousands more underage people illegally registered before turning 18.
"The false statements were made with reckless disregard for the truth," prosecutor Daysha Young said in court.
Young also said Ellis abetted the efforts of former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, with whom she appeared at a December, 2020, hearing in Georgia.
"The false statements were used as part of the Trump campaign," Daysha Young said.
She will get five years' probation and pay $5,000 restitution, perform 100 hours of community service, and write an apology letter.
As part of the deal Ellis agrees to continue to provide "additional recorded statements" to prosecutors, as well as continue to provide documents. She must also continue to "fully cooperate" with prosecutors, including appearing at any evidentiary hearings where she is needed.
Steve Sadow, Trump's lead counsel in the case, pointed to the decision by Fulton County District Attorney Fain Willis to drop the racketeering charge against Ellis.
"For the fourth time, Fani Willis and her prosecution team have dismissed the RICO charge in return for a plea to probation" Sadow said in a statement. "What that shows is this so-called RICO case is nothing more than a bargaining chip for DA Willis. Moreover, this plea was to a completely separate charge, not a part of the original indictment, which doesn't even mention President Trump."
Trump and 18 others pleaded not guilty in August to all charges in a sweeping racketeering indictment for alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia.
In addition to Ellis, defendants Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell and Scott Hall have taken plea deals in exchange for agreeing to testify against other defendants.
