OAN’s James Meyers
8:54 AM – Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Jenna Ellis becomes the third member of former President Donald Trump’s team to take a plea deal in the Georgia election interference case.
The former 2020 Trump campaign attorney tearfully pleaded guilty in a Fulton County courtroom on Tuesday, saying she “failed” to do her “due diligence” when it came to the 2020 presidential election claims.
She now becomes the fourth defendant to take a plea deal, which accuses 19 people, including Trump, of conspiring to overturn the election results in the state of Georgia.
The guilty plea comes less than two weeks after Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro both negotiated plea deals days before their trial date.
Additionally, Ellis pleaded guilty to one felony count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings in Georgia.
“I relied on others, including lawyers with many more years of experience than I, to provide me with true and reliable information, especially since my role involved speaking to the media and to legislators in various states,” Ellis said in a Fulton County courtroom Tuesday.
“What I did not do, but should have done, your honor, was to make sure that the facts the other lawyers alleged to be true were in fact true. In the frenetic pace of attempting to raise challenges to the election in several states, including Georgia, I failed to do my due diligence.”
She emphasized that she had “deep remorse” for her role in the election challenges.
“I believe in and I value election integrity,” she went on. “If I knew then what I know now, I would have declined to represent Donald Trump in these post-election challenges.”
Ellis concluded through tears, “For those failures of mine, your honor, I have taken responsibility already before the Colorado bar, who censured me. And I now take responsibility before this court and apologize to the people of Georgia.”
The former Trump attorney’s agreement is expected to include five years probation, a $5,000 restitution to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, 100 hours of community service, an apology letter to the Peach State, and her testimony to be used in future trials related to the case.
The 98 page, 41-count indictment alleged Ellis urged state legislators in key swing states President Joe Biden won to appoint presidential electors who would vote for Trump.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts