In a startling revelation to Georgia prosecutors, Jenna Ellis, former attorney for Donald Trump, disclosed that an aide had told her the ex-president had no intention of vacating the White House after his 2020 election loss. This disclosure adds a new dimension to the ongoing legal challenges facing Trump, who is already entangled in multiple legal proceedings.
Ellis, charged along with Trump and 17 other co-defendants earlier this year, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting false statements and writings. During her meeting with prosecutors, she recounted a conversation with Dan Scavino, where he expressed, in an excited tone, that Trump, referred to as "the boss," planned to stay in power, regardless of the election outcome. "The boss is not going to leave under any circumstances. We are just going to stay in power," Scavino allegedly said.
National security lawyer Bradley Moss described Ellis's admission as "devastating" for Trump's legal position, underlining that Trump "never had any intention of complying with the election results." This assertion gains gravity considering Trump faces 13 felony counts in Georgia linked to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Moreover, an indictment alleges that Trump had prepared a speech falsely declaring victory and claiming voter fraud four days before the 2020 election. This preemptive claim of victory was deemed an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy.
In a separate video from a confidential interview, part of Ellis's plea deal, she recounted learning that Trump wouldn't concede defeat to President Joe Biden. Sidney Powell, another former Trump attorney, also part of the Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' election interference indictment, detailed her plans in a separate proffer session with prosecutors. Powell, who pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor charges, admitted to not being well-versed in election law but was convinced of the fraud.
Responding to these allegations, Trump's lead attorney, Steve Sadow, dismissed the significance of these disclosures, emphasizing that Trump vacated the White House on January 20, 2021. Sadow labeled the evidence as "bogus" and "ridiculous," calling for the dismissal of what he termed a "political travesty of a case."
These developments paint a complex picture of the aftermath of the 2020 election, shedding light on the internal dynamics and plans within the Trump camp. As legal proceedings continue, these revelations may play a critical role in shaping the outcomes of the various cases against the former president and his associates.
