A former attorney for former President Donald Trump has pleaded guilty to election interference charges in Georgia.
Jenna Ellis is the third co-defendant in the case to enter a guilty plea. Atlanta District Attorney Fani Willis brought charges against Trump and a total of 18 co-defendants for allegedly conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
The 38-year-old appeared in Fulton County Superior Court and pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings for allegedly making false claims about voter fraud while testifying before the Georgia Senate in December of 2020.
She was originally charged with two felonies including violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and soliciting the violation of oath by a public officer.
While appearing in Fulton County Superior Court before Judge Scott McAfee, Ellis read a prepared statement expressing regret for her actions.
“As an attorney who is also a Christian, I take my responsibilities as a lawyer very seriously and I endeavor to be a person of sound moral and ethical character in all of my dealings,” Ellis said, per CNBC.
“I believed that challenging the results on behalf of President Trump should be pursued in a just and legal way,” she added. “I failed to do my due diligence."
“If I knew then what I know now, I would have declined to represent Donald Trump in these post-election challenges,” she said tearfully. “I look back on this whole experience with deep remorse.” Former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis broke down in the courtroom and said if she knew what she knows now, she would not have represented him. WATCH pic.twitter.com/ASi8jZIYfa
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) October 24, 2023
As part of her plea agreement, Ellis will serve five years of probation and pay $5,000 in restitution. She will also need to write a letter of apology to the people of Georgia and serve 100 hours of community service.
She will also be required to testify if called at all hearings or trials relating to Willis’s case against the remaining co-defendants.
Two other attorneys who worked on Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign – Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro – have also pleaded guilty in the last week.
“The early pleas and the favorable punishment — probation rather than jail — could foreshadow similar outcomes for additional defendants who may see an admission of guilt and cooperation as their best hope for leniency,” reports AP News. “Even so, their value as witnesses against Trump is unclear given that their direct participation in unfounded schemes will no doubt expose them to attacks on their credibility and bruising cross-examinations should they testify.”
Following news of her plea, Ellis was criticized for using her determination to fight the charges against her to raise more than $200,000. A GiveSendGo set up in support of Trump’s former senior legal advisor said Ellis was “being targeted" and that "the government is trying to criminalize the practice of law.”
“I don’t think Jebba Ellis should’ve been charged in Georgia,” wrote political strategist Alex Brunesewitz in a message on X. “But I think it’s an absolute disgrace that she raised $216k from grassroots donors in the name of “fighting back” and then immediately caved.”
“Is she pocketing the money?” he added. “I think she should return it.” I don’t think Jebba Ellis should’ve been charged in Georgia.
But I think it’s an absolute disgrace that she raised $216k from grassroots donors in the name of “fighting back” and then immediately caved.
Is she pocketing the money? I think she should return it.
— Alex Bruesewitz 🇺🇸 (@alexbruesewitz) October 24, 2023
“Those donations weren’t contingent on Jenna Ellis refusing to testify against Donald Trump,” wrote another X user. “If people sent their hard-earned money based on that wrongful assumption, they got suckered…yet again.” Those donations weren’t contingent on Jenna Ellis refusing to testify against Donald Trump. If people sent their hard-earned money based on that wrongful assumption, they got suckered…yet again.
— Michaleen (@michaleen) October 24, 2023
“I TOLD YOU NOT TO DONATE TO THIS DISLOYAL WENCH,” wrote commentator Laura Loomer in a post. “She’s now going to use the money so many of you foolishly gave her to work against President Trump in an election year. Shame on every single MORON who donated to Jenna Ellis.” Jenna Ellis scammed all of you who donated to her.
I TOLD YOU NOT TO DONATE TO THIS DISLOYAL WENCH.
Today she accepted a plea deal, which will only require her to pay a $5,000 fine and get probation for 5 years. She didn’t even attempt to fight the charges.
She’s now going… https://t.co/Ixof9IefZi pic.twitter.com/YywNJz1aKU
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) October 24, 2023
Some conservative personalities came to Ellis's defense.
Former One America News Network host Liz Wheeler said those who were quick to criticize Ellis for taking a plea deal “fail to understand the police state we’re living under.” For all the people criticizing @JennaEllisEsq for pleading guilty to one count, accusing her of “flipping” on Trump, etc… Perhaps you fail to understand the police state we’re living under.
Imagine facing false accusations from a deeply dishonest Soros-funded prosecutor and NOT…
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) October 24, 2023
“Imagine facing false accusations from a deeply dishonest Soros-funded prosecutor and NOT BEING ABLE TO TRUST A JURY to protect you from unjust convictions,” wrote Wheeler on X. “It should make you sick to your stomach.”
“Maybe instead of blaming Jenna, you should channel righteous indignation into actually restoring our govt into the JUST system of govt it’s supposed to be, instead of b*tching on Twitter all the time that someone ELSE won’t cave to the left’s evil targeting & go to jail,” she added.
