Legal analyst dissects Jenna Ellis’ cooperation in AZ election case

Former Donald Trump attorney Jenna Ellis has been a defendant in two separate criminal cases pertaining to Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results: one being prosecuted by Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis, the other by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. And in both cases, she has avoided prison by flipping and reaching an agreement with prosecutors.

Mayes' office has agreed to drop all of the charges against Ellis in exchange for her full cooperation.

In his August 6 column, MSNBC's Jordan Rubin's offers legal analysis of Ellis' Arizona agreement — which, Rubin emphasizes, could be bad news for Rudy Giuliani.

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The former New York City mayor is a criminal defendant in the Georgia and Arizona cases and was, like Ellis, a major player in Trump's unsuccessful efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

"When Ellis pleaded guilty in Fulton County last year," Rubin explains, "I noted that one high-profile Georgia defendant implicated by that move was Rudy Giuliani…. The Arizona indictment likewise notes that Ellis 'worked closely' with Giuliani. Given the state's decision to reach a cooperation agreement, prosecutors could be satisfied that she can truthfully detail that work in a way that helps prove their case at trial, gets other defendants to plead guilty, or both…. So, it's more potentially ominous news for at least Giuliani, whose legal woes are legion."

Rubin points out that while Trump is the main defendant in Willis' case, he hasn't been indicted in Arizona.

"Whether Trump's criminal exposure has increased is a natural thing to wonder about," the MSNBC legal journalist writes. "Recall that, unlike in Georgia, Trump wasn't charged in Arizona but rather, was referenced as an unindicted alleged co-conspirator…. Ultimately, it's the Arizona prosecutors who have the best idea of how they want to use Ellis, based on their conversations with her and among themselves.

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Jordan Rubin's full MSNBC column is available at this link.