Jenna Ellis, a lawyer and prominent conservative media figure, reached a deal with prosecutors on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to a reduced charge for attempting to overturn former President Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia.

Ellis, the fourth defendant in the case to enter a plea deal, was an outspoken member of Trump’s re-election campaign during the last presidential cycle and was charged along with the Republican former president and 17 others with violating the US anti-racketeering law stands.

Ellis pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings. She was charged with violating Georgia’s law on racketeers and corrupt organizations and inciting a public official to violate the oath.

Ellis’ guilty plea comes just days after two other defendants, fellow attorneys Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, entered guilty pleas. That means three high-profile people responsible for pushing baseless legal challenges to President Biden’s 2020 election victory have agreed to accept responsibility for their roles rather than take their chances before a jury.

Ellis, 38, said in a tearful statement that she relied on lawyers with far more experience than herself and failed to verify the truth of what they told her.

Prosecutors are recommending five years of probation for Ellis, along with $5,000 in restitution, 100 hours of community service, a letter of apology to the people of Georgia and truthful testimony in trials related to this case.

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The early pleas and favorable probation in lieu of prison time could portend similar outcomes for additional defendants who see a guilty plea and cooperation as their best hope for leniency. Yet their value as witnesses against Trump is unclear, as their direct participation in baseless schemes will undoubtedly expose them to attacks on their credibility and crushing cross-examinations if they were to testify.

The indictment in the sweeping case details a number of allegations against Ellis, including that she helped orchestrate plans to disrupt and delay the congressional certification of the 2020 election results on January 6, 2021, the day a mob of Trump supporters ultimately president was underfoot. US Capitol.

Ellis is also accused at a hearing in Pennsylvania of urging state lawmakers to unlawfully appoint a series of presidential electors loyal to Trump, and she later appeared with some of those lawmakers and Trump at a meeting on the subject in the White House. The indictment further says she similarly induced state lawmakers to support pro-Trump voters in Georgia, Arizona and Michigan.

Before her plea, Ellis was defiant, posting in August on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter: Democrats and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office are criminalizing the practice of justice. I am determined to trust the Lord.

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But she has since become more critical of Trump, saying on conservative radio in September that she would not vote for him again, citing his malignant, narcissistic tendency to simply say he has never done anything wrong.

Along with former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, Ellis was a leading voice in the Trump campaign’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. He regularly appeared on television and in conservative media to tell lies about widespread fraud that did not occur and to spread misinformation and conspiracy theories. .

She was criticized in Colorado in March after admitting to making repeated false statements about the 2020 election.

That punishment was due in part to an appearance on Newsmax on November 20, 2020, in which she said, “With all those states [Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Georgia] All told, we know the election was stolen from President Trump, and we can prove it.

Powell pleaded guilty to six felonies charging her with conspiracy to intentionally interfere with the execution of election duties. Powell will be on probation for six years, fined $6,000 and must write a letter of apology to Georgia and its residents.

Chesebro pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to file false documents just as jury selection in his trial was getting underway. He was sentenced to five years’ probation and 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution, write a letter of apology to the citizens of Georgia and testify truthfully at any related future trial.

A less prominent defendant in the case, bail bondsman Scott Graham Hall, pleaded guilty to five felonies last month. He was sentenced to five years’ probation and agreed to testify in further proceedings.