In recent developments surrounding the investigation into alleged election interference in Georgia, former President Donald Trump’s attorney, Jenna Ellis, has reportedly disclosed significant information during a confidential interview with Fulton County investigators. As part of a plea deal, Ellis revealed that, in the aftermath of the 2020 election, she was informed by senior Trump White House official Dan Scavino that the former president had no intentions of leaving the White House, despite the electoral defeat and legal challenges.
The revelations came to light through excerpts of video footage obtained by ABC News from proffer sessions with Ellis and another Trump attorney, Sidney Powell. Ellis detailed a conversation with Scavino at a White House Christmas party, where, in response to the legal setbacks, he allegedly conveyed Trump’s steadfast refusal to leave office under any circumstances. Ellis further alluded to two additional instances that she deemed relevant to prosecutors, but attorney-client privilege restricted her from disclosing specific details.
Powell, who also entered a plea deal, shared insights into her communications with Trump, emphasizing her role in the legal efforts to contest the election results. She discussed plans to seize voting machines nationwide and meetings with Trump and his advisers, shedding light on the contentious atmosphere during an Oval Office meeting on December 18, 2020.
Trump’s lead counsel, Steve Sadow, responded to Ellis’s reported remarks, dismissing the alleged private conversation as “absolutely meaningless.” Sadow reiterated that the only pertinent fact was Trump’s departure from the White House on January 20, 2021.
Ellis, Powell, and two other defendants have agreed to plead guilty to reduced charges, avoiding jail time in exchange for their cooperation in the case. The investigation, spearheaded by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, has faced criticism from Trump, who characterizes it as a politically motivated endeavor.
As legal proceedings unfold, these recent disclosures offer a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes dynamics and conversations within Trump’s legal team following the 2020 election. The information may become crucial in understanding the context and motivations behind efforts to challenge the election results in Georgia.
EXCLUSIVE: ABC News has obtained video from Georgia prosecutors’ interview with ex-Trump attorney Jenna Ellis, in which Ellis tells them she was personally informed by a top Trump adviser that Trump was “not going to leave” the White House — despite losing the 2020 election.… pic.twitter.com/J9c4bm9cbZ
— ABC News (@ABC) November 13, 2023
