Fact Check: Now That Fani Willis Is Gone, Is Jenna Ellis in Tears for Selling Out Trump with Plea Deal?

At this stage, does it even matter? Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis has been removed from the Donald Trump election interference case. But does this mean one of the individuals who struck plea deals and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors—effectively turning against Trump—is now regretting that decision in tears?

That’s the narrative some social media users are pushing, but there’s little to no evidence supporting such claims.

Here’s the update you might have missed amid the holiday season chaos: On Dec. 19, a Georgia state appeals court ruled that Willis must be disqualified from the Trump election interference case. The Associated Press called it “the latest legal victory for the president-elect in criminal cases that once threatened his career and freedom.”

The Georgia case involved Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) charges against Trump and several of his legal team members, based largely on a post-2020 election call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. During the call, Trump encouraged investigations into alleged voter fraud. Some individuals, including Jenna Ellis, opted to plead guilty to lesser charges. Ellis had once referred to herself as part of an “elite strike force team” challenging the election results.

In October 2023, The New York Times reported, “Ms. Ellis, 38, pleaded guilty to a charge of aiding and abetting false statements and writings, a felony. She is the fourth defendant to plead guilty in the Georgia case, which charged Mr. Trump and 18 others with conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Mr. Trump’s favor.”

The article also detailed her plea agreement: “Ms. Ellis agreed to be sentenced to five years of probation, pay $5,000 in restitution and perform 100 hours of community service. She has already written an apology letter to the citizens of Georgia, and she agreed to cooperate fully with prosecutors as the case progresses.”

This deal allowed Ellis to avoid jail time, a move Willis likely hoped would strengthen her case against Trump before the 2024 election. However, complications arose, including allegations of an inappropriate relationship between Willis and Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she hired. These issues ultimately led to the court’s decision.

Now, with presidents generally shielded from prosecution during their terms, Georgia may have to wait years to retry the case—assuming the disqualification ruling holds. As the AP noted, the Georgia Court of Appeals described this as “the rare case in which disqualification is mandated and no other remedy will suffice to restore public confidence in the integrity of these proceedings.” Willis’ office has since sought a review by the Georgia Supreme Court.

Amid this upheaval, has Ellis been overcome with regret? A viral post from social media user “Bad Hombre,” who has 135,000 followers on X, suggests so. Claiming information from a “source close to Jenna Ellis,” the post states:

“Jenna is grappling with deep regret over her decision to accept plea deals in Arizona and Georgia under the direction of Fani Willis. She now believes it was the greatest mistake of her life, especially as her charges likely would have been dropped, and Willis herself has since been dismissed from the case. According to the source, Jenna has been in emotional turmoil, often calling in tears multiple times a week.”

The post further alleges professional setbacks, including struggling viewership for her podcast, potential contract cancellations, and failed attempts to reconnect with Trump allies. It also claims Ellis is desperate to rebrand as a MAGA supporter.

In response, Ellis directly refuted the claims, stating, “This is a bad faith attempt to elicit a comment from me. I’ll simply point out (as the source closest to myself) that this entire post is a work of fiction and a lie.”

Ellis clarified her current role, noting she left Salem Media in August to take a full-time position with the American Family Association, where she serves as senior policy advisor and hosts Jenna Ellis in the Morning. She also pointed out factual inaccuracies, including the false claim that she lost her law license—it’s suspended for three years—and the erroneous assertion she accepted a plea deal in Arizona.

While Ellis’ legal and political standing may have taken a hit, the idea that these developments constitute an “own” is questionable. As President Abraham Lincoln once remarked, “The problem with information that you read on the internet is that it is not always true.”

A simple search could have dispelled the falsehoods in “Bad Hombre’s” post. Whether the inaccuracies stem from a misleading source or deliberate fabrication, the result remains the same: misinformation.

As for Ellis and Willis, the focus may soon shift elsewhere. One of the many benefits of Trump’s election victory is that these legal battles will likely fade from prominence for the next four years. Perhaps it’s time for everyone, including “Bad Hombre,” to take a cue from Elsa and “let it go.”