One of former President Donald Trump’s attorneys, Jenna Ellis, has revealed in a confidential interview with Fulton County investigators that she was informed after the 2020 election that Trump had no intention of leaving the White House, despite losing the election. Ellis disclosed this information as part of a plea deal in the district attorney’s election interference case. ABC News obtained portions of videos from Ellis and another attorney, Sidney Powell, who both aided Trump’s efforts to overturn the election.
According to Ellis, senior White House official Dan Scavino told her that Trump would refuse to leave the White House, even though their legal challenges had failed. However, Ellis was unable to disclose two other instances she considered relevant due to attorney-client privilege. Powell, on the other hand, claimed that she frequently communicated with Trump during her election overturn efforts but clarified that she was never his attorney.
During her proffer session, Powell admitted that she didn’t have much knowledge of election law but believed there was evidence of fraud based on her experience as a prosecutor. The Fulton County District Attorney’s office declined to comment, and the attorneys for Ellis and Powell also refrained from providing statements. Trump’s lead counsel in the case dismissed the conversation described by Ellis as meaningless, emphasizing that Trump had left the White House.
Proffer sessions are part of plea deals, where defendants disclose information to assist prosecutors. The videos obtained by ABC News are excerpts from Ellis and Powell’s proffer sessions, indicating that Powell answered three hours of questions. Trump and 18 others pleaded not guilty to charges related to overturning the 2020 election in Georgia. Ellis and Powell, along with two other defendants, have agreed to plead guilty to reduced charges in exchange for cooperation.
Ellis, who was once a loyal supporter of Trump, frequently spread false claims of election fraud after the 2020 election. The Trump campaign paid her nearly $195,000 for her legal services. In the video, Ellis alleges that Scavino informed her that Trump would stay in power, regardless of the election results. Powell, after accepting her plea deal, denied ever representing Trump or his campaign but admitted to being in close contact with him during their efforts to challenge the election.
