Article Summary
Jenna Ellis, a former lawyer for Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign, pleaded guilty to illegally conspiring to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia, marking the first time a senior Trump aide has been criminally accountable for and admitted to making false claims about the election. Ellis agreed to complete three to five years of probation and 100 hours of community service, pay a $5,000 restitution, and write an apology letter to the state of Georgia. Ellis worked closely with Rudy Giuliani, another defendant in the case, and is now the fourth Trump co-defendant to plead guilty in the case, potentially providing evidence for other defendants and agreeing to testify in future trials.
Role in the Trump Campaign
Jenna Ellis is a legal professional who gained prominence for her role as a legal advisor to the Trump campaign during the 2020 United States presidential election. She was hired as a senior legal adviser for Donald Trump’s re-election campaign in November 2019.
Work with Rudy Giuliani
Throughout her tenure with the campaign, Ellis played a significant role in its post-election legal challenges. During this time, she worked closely with Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal lawyer, and became known as his protege.
Legal Challenges
Ellis was a prominent figure in the Trump campaign’s efforts to challenge the election results, particularly in Pennsylvania and other battleground states. She was a member of the legal team assembled by Trump on November 14, 2020, to contest the election’s legitimacy.
Press Conferences and Advocacy
Ellis and Giuliani effectively took charge of the campaign’s legal efforts, leading to a public confrontation with other advisers and campaign staff. They held press conferences and advocated for Trump’s claims of election fraud, even though they did not present concrete evidence of such fraud during these public appearances.
COVID-19 Safety Measures
Ellis faced criticism for her stance on COVID-19 safety measures, as she did not wear a mask during certain meetings, including one with Michigan lawmakers. Both she and Giuliani later tested positive for COVID-19.
House Select Committee Testimony
In January 2022, Ellis was subpoenaed to testify before the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack, where she invoked her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination.
Post-Trump Campaign Activities
After her involvement with the Trump campaign, Jenna Ellis remained active in conservative politics. She criticized efforts to repeal the Reedy Creek Improvement Act and took on the role of senior legal adviser to Doug Mastriano in his campaign for governor of Pennsylvania.
Public Censure
In March 2023, Jenna Ellis faced public censure by the Colorado Supreme Court for making misrepresentations about the 2020 presidential election. She admitted to knowingly misrepresenting facts and paid a fine as part of the censure.
Indictment and Guilty Plea
Then, in August 2023, Jenna Ellis was indicted by a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, along with 18 others, for her alleged involvement in a criminal enterprise aimed at overturning the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia. She turned herself in to authorities in August 2023 and later pleaded guilty to one felony count related to aiding and abetting false statements during a legislative hearing in December 2020. As part of her guilty plea, she received probation, a restitution payment, community service, and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors against her co-defendants.
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