Jenna Ellis pleads guilty, tearfully apologizes for spreading election lies

Former Trump campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis became the fourth co-defendant to plead guilty in Georgia's election interference case, accepting a felony conviction and agreeing to cooperate with prosecutors. Ellis, who had repeatedly appeared on television promoting Trump's false election claims, offered a tearful apology in court: "If I knew then what I know now, I would have declined to represent Donald Trump in these post-election challenges." She admitted to making false statements and received five years' probation, $5,000 in restitution, and 100 hours of community service. Like Sidney Powell before her, Ellis agreed to testify truthfully in future proceedings. The NYT noted "three lawyers indicted with Donald Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 election results will now cooperate with prosecutors." Her emotional courtroom statement represented a stark reversal from her previous defiant posture.

"If I knew then what I know now, I would have declined to represent Donald Trump in these post-election challenges." — Tearful apology in Fulton County courtroom, October 24, 2023