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Speculation is mounting that attorney Jenna Ellis may take a plea deal in the Georgia election indictment and possibly testify against Donald Trump.
This comes after Trump campaign attorney Kenneth Chesebro agreed to plead guilty last Friday to a felony charge in the Georgia election interference case. The deal with Chesebro came one day after attorney and co-defendant Sidney Powell struck a plea agreement with prosecutors. Another co-defendant, bail bondsman Scott Hall, pleaded guilty in September to five misdemeanor conspiracy charges. All three made a deal in exchange for lesser charges.
Ellis, a one-time Trump supporter, has been extremely critical of the former president in recent months for his alleged lack of support for the 18 indicted with him in Georgia.
Appearing on MSNBC with host Katie Phang on Sunday, former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance singled out Ellis, saying she has the most to lose and has already complained about her legal costs.
"Some of the defendants whose names aren't dinner table conversation are likely to plead now that both Sidney Powell, who was involved there, has pleaded as well as Scott Hall, the first person to plead," Vance said.
"My pick for the next significant plea that we'll see is Jenna Ellis, one of Trump's lawyers," Vance added. "She [Ellis] had a lot of access to Trump and other lawyers, she has been public about his failure to help with the payment of her legal fees, and as this drags on, that natural pressure may encourage her to go ahead and be the next of the lawyers to flip."
Conservative commentators are also convinced that Ellis will be willing to cooperate with Georgia prosecutors.
Laura Loomer, a Trump supporter, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Prepare to watch her take a Plea Deal in the next week. Hope those of you who donated $220,000 to her are happy. Your money will be used to attack President Trump."
Loomer was referring to legal defense fund money raised by Ellis on the GiveSendGo fundraising site. Ellis' fundraising page reads: "Jenna Ellis, former senior legal adviser and personal counsel to President Trump, is being targeted and the government is trying to criminalize the practice of law," the text reads. "Help her fight back and stand for the truth!"
While there is no indication Ellis is starting or willing to cooperate with prosecutors in Georgia, she has continued to speak out in recent months against Trump and his 2024 campaign.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, discussing the potential to pardon those convicted of non-violent crimes during the January 6 attack, Ellis wrote on September 4: "DeSantis said he would consider pardons on a case by case basis.
"Trump could have issued a blanket pardon before he left office, with certain requisite conditions to be ascertained later on a case by case basis (such as non-violent individuals for instance, to foreclose pardoning anyone in your example). Why didn't he?" she added.
In a separate X post from September 1, Ellis wrote: "Has Trump defended the J6ers [January 6, 2021 accused]? Has Trump defended the indicted lawyers? Has Trump defended the pastors jailed or threatened with fines over [former Chief Medical Advisor Anthony] Fauci's failed COVID policies
In another recent social post expressing support for DeSantis, Ellis said: "I'm sick of a weak and feckless party that has no moral contours and is more concerned with memes than winning. The clear standout is Ron DeSantis, and he's the only shot that Republicans have to win in 2024." Trump remains the frontrunner for the GOP 2024 presidential nomination.
Newsweek has sought comment from Jenna Ellis' and Donald Trump's legal team.
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About the writer
Sean O'Driscoll is a Newsweek Senior Crime and Courts Reporter based in Ireland. His focus is reporting on U.S. law. ... Read more