Ex-Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis will cooperate with prosecutors in Arizona ‘fake electors’ case
Former President Donald Trump’s ex-campaign attorney Jenna Ellis reached a cooperation agreement with Arizona prosecutors on Monday that will result in dropping the charges against her in the so-called “fake electors” case.
“This agreement represents a significant step forward in our case,” Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a statement.
“I am grateful to Ms. Ellis for her cooperation with our investigation and prosecution,” she added. “Her insights are invaluable and will greatly aid the State in proving its case in court.
“As I stated when the initial charges were announced, I will not allow American democracy to be undermined – it is far too important,” Mayes continued, calling the deal a “win for the rule of law.”
Ellis, 39, was among 18 individuals — including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former Arizona GOP Chairwoman Kelli Ward — to be hit with nine felony counts for allegedly submitting false certificates to Congress declaring Trump to have won Arizona in the 2020 presidential election.
The individuals charged in the case had all previously pleaded not guilty to fraud, forgery and conspiracy charges.
Mayes noted that the case against the other 17 defendants remains ongoing.
“We are grateful the Arizona Attorney General’s Office completely dismissed the indictment against Jenna Ellis as she was not involved in the so-called ‘fake elector’ scheme,” Ellis’ lawyers Matt Brown and Matt Melito, said in a statement.
“Jenna was originally told she was not a target and her cooperation is her continued willingness to tell the truth,” they added.
Prosecutors alleged that Ellis, while not one of the fake electors herself, did peddle claims of widespread election fraud in the state, encouraged the state legislature to overturn the election result and urged former Vice President Mike Pence to participate in the fake electors plot.
Last year, Ellis was charged in the Georgia 2020 election case and reached a deal with prosecutors allowing her to plead guilty to one felony count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings in exchange for her cooperation.
Ellis’ deal with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis recommended a sentence of five years of probation, $5,000 in restitution, and 100 hours of community service in exchange for having no contact with the media or co-defendants (which includes Trump) and cooperating and testifying at other trials in the sprawling racketeering and influence case.
