A former Trump campaign lawyer has told Georgia prosecutors that the former president’s team vowed to keep him in the White House “at all costs” despite his loss in the 2020 election.
Jenna Ellis, 38, previously pleaded guilty to several charges in the election interference case – and as part of her plea, she has now revealed details of the conversations that followed Trump’s defeat.
In a recorded interview with Fulton County investigators obtained by ABC News, Ellis recalled a conversation she had with former White House social media director Dan Scavino on Dec. 19, 2020 – a month after the election of Joe Biden.
“I told him that the allegations and the opportunity to challenge the election results were essentially over,” Ellis told investigators.
“He said to me in a sort of excited tone, ‘We don’t care and we’re not going.’
Former Trump campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis has told prosecutors in Georgia that he wants to remain in the White House “at all costs” after the 2020 election loss
Ellis (pictured with Trump) previously pleaded guilty to some charges in the election interference case and, as part of her plea, told investigators that the former president would not give up power despite losing the vote
EXCLUSIVE: ABC News has obtained video from Georgia prosecutors’ interview with former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis, in which Ellis tells them that she was personally briefed by a top Trump adviser that Trump wanted the White House ” would not leave” – despite losing the White House election in 2020.… pic.twitter.com/J9c4bm9cbZ
– ABC News (@ABC) November 13, 2023
“I said, ‘What do you mean?’ and he said, ‘Well, the boss – that is, President Trump – is not going to leave under any circumstances, we’re just going to stay in power.’
“I said to him, ‘That’s not exactly how it works, you know,’ and he said, ‘We don’t care.’”
Her testimony sheds light on what cooperating defendants could tell prosecutors about how Trump’s inner circle handled the 2020 defeat.
At the time, the president himself made wild claims that the results were fraudulent, even as his own campaign’s official challenges were rejected in court.
Last month, Ellis burst into tears and pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting false statements and writing in the Georgia case. More serious charges of violating the state’s anti-crime law were brought against them.
The lawyer avoided prison time and was sentenced to five years probation, a $5,000 fine and 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to write a letter of apology to the people of Georgia.
Ellis recalled a Dec. 19, 2020, conversation with former White House social media director Dan Scavino at their Christmas party after voters elected Joe Biden the previous month
The former lawyer’s recollections shed light on what cooperating defendants could tell prosecutors about how Trump’s inner circle handled the 2020 defeat
A tearful Jenna Ellis speaks outside the courthouse in Fulton County, Georgia
She was also ordered to testify truthfully in all proceedings related to the case, which could include testimony against Trump.
It came days after two other former Trump lawyers – Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro – also struck deals and pleaded guilty to lesser charges.
Ellis was indicted two months ago along with Trump, Powell, Chesebro and more than a dozen other defendants accused of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia.
Ellis was one of the most prominent voices in Trump’s attempts to challenge the 2020 election results, appearing frequently on television to advance claims of voter fraud.
Addressing the court through tears, Ellis blamed her crime on “more experienced” lawyers with whom she had worked on Trump’s behalf.
During that time, she worked closely with Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who was Trump’s personal lawyer, although she did not mention Giuliani by name in her statement.
Ellis sobbed as she told the court: “I am a lawyer who is also a Christian.”
“I take my responsibility as a lawyer very seriously. I relied on others, including attorneys with extensive experience, to provide me with truthful and reliable information.
Jenna Ellis with Trump in the Oval Office
“Especially since my job involves speaking to the media and legislators in various states.
“What I didn’t do, but should have done, your honor, was make sure that the facts that the other lawyers thought were true were in fact true.”
Wiping away tears, she added: “At the frantic pace at which I attempted to challenge the election in several states, including Georgia, I failed to do my due diligence.”
“I believe in and value the integrity of the election. “And if I had known then what I know now, I would have declined to represent Donald Trump in these post-election challenges.”
Ellis further told the court that she feels “deep remorse,” adding, “I apologize to the people of Georgia.”