Ex-Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis told Georgia prosecutors then-President wanted to stay in White House after losing 2020 election according to interviews after flipping and reaching plea agreements

• Ellis previously pleaded guilty to some charges in the election interference case
• As part of her plea deal she has now given investigators extra information
• She revealed Trump’s team said he would stay in the White House despite poll

A former Trump campaign attorney has told Georgia prosecutors the former president’s team vowed to keep him in the White House ‘under any circumstances’ despite losing the 2020 election. 

Jenna Ellis, 38, previously pleaded guilty to some charges in the election interference case – and as part of her plea deal she’s now given details about the conversations which 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 December 19 2020 – the month after Joe Biden was elected. 

‘I told him the claims and the ability to challenge the election results was essentially over,’ Ellis told investigators. 

‘He said to me in a kind of excited tone: “We don’t care and we’re not going to leave”. 

Former Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis has told Georgia prosecutors he wanted to stay in the White House ‘under any circumstances’ after losing the 2020 election

Ellis (pictured with Trump) previously pleaded guilty to some charges in the election interference case, and as part of her plea deal she has told investigators the former president was not going to give up power despite having lost the vote 

‘I said “what do you mean”, and he said “well the boss – meaning President Trump – is not going to leave under any circumstances, we are just going to stay in power”. 

‘I said to him “it doesn’t quite work that way, you realize” and he said “we don’t care”.’ 

Her testimony provides an insight into what cooperating defendants could be telling prosecutors about how Trump’s inner circle dealt with defeat in 2020. 

At the time, the president himself was making wild allegations about the results being fake, despite his own campaign’s official court challenges being rejected.  

Last month, Ellis broke down in tears and pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting false statements and writing in the Georgia case. She had been facing more serious charges of violating the state’s anti-racketeering law.

The attorney avoided jail and was sentenced to five years probation, a $5,000 fine, and 100 hours of community service, and was also ordered to write an apology letter to the people of Georgia.

Ellis recalled a December 19 2020 conversation she had with former White House social media director Dan Scavino at their Christmas party, after voters elected Joe Biden the previous month

The former attorney’s recollection provides an insight into what cooperating defendants could be telling prosecutors about how Trump’s inner circle dealt with defeat in 2020

A tearful Jenna Ellis addresses the court in Fulton County, Georgia

She was also ordered to testify truthfully in any trials related to the case, which could include giving evidence 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, who were accused of a sprawling criminal conspiracy to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia.

Ellis had been one of the most prominent voices in Trump’s attempts to challenge the 2020 election results, appearing frequently on television pushing claims of voter fraud.

Addressing the court through tears, Ellis blamed her crime on ‘more experienced’ lawyers she had worked with on behalf of Trump.

During that time she worked closely with Rudy Giuliani, the former New York Mayor who was Trump’s personal lawyer, although she did not name Giuliani in her statement.

Ellis sobbed as she told the court: ‘I’m an attorney who is also a Christian. 

‘I take my responsibilities as a lawyer very seriously. I relied on others, including lawyers with many more years of experience, to provide me with true and reliable information. 

Jenna Ellis with Trump in the Oval Office

‘Especially since my role involves speaking to the media and to legislators in various states.

‘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.’

Wiping away tears, she added: ‘In the frenetic pace of attempting to raise challenges to the election in several states, including Georgia, I failed to do my due diligence.

‘I believe in and I value election integrity. And if I knew then what I know now, I would have declined to represent Donald Trump in these post-election challenges.’

Ellis went on to tell the court she felt ‘deep remorse’ and added: ‘I apologize to the people of Georgia.’

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