Trump lawyer who attended White House party tests positive for Covid
December 8, 2020
Another main figure in President Donald Trump’s legal battle to challenge the results of the 2020 election has tested positive for Covid-19, people inside the White House and Trump campaign confirmed on Tuesday.
Jenna Ellis, who has worked side by side with Rudy Giuliani on behalf of the Trump campaign to file lawsuits in battleground states, has tested positive for the contagious disease. It is unclear when Ellis was told of her diagnosis, but Giuliani was diagnosed with the coronavirus on Sunday and was admitted to Georgetown University Hospital as a precaution.
Ellis caused a stir with White House officials who learned they were at a Christmas party last Friday with the Trump campaign attorney, who attended as a guest of trade adviser Peter Navarro. She was not feeling well, one person familiar with Ellis' diagnosis said, and was not wearing a mask while mingling with the other guests, which included top administration officials. A senior White House official confirmed they were told of Ellis’ diagnosis.
“This is bound to become a super spreader. She was mingling with everyone and no one was wearing a mask,” said one party attendee.
A person who attended a Christmas party at the White House on Monday evening with campaign staff said Ellis’ diagnosis was discussed by guests at the party. That person noted that some of the guests chose not to bring family members or spouses because of how lax the White House has been with coronavirus precautions.
Axios was first to report that Ellis tested positive.
Ellis’ diagnosis is the latest wrench thrown into the Trump campaign's efforts to advance their baseless claims of voter fraud and dispute President-elect Joe Biden's victory. Another member of the Trump campaign’s legal team, Boris Epshteyn, also tested positive for the virus in recent weeks.
A senior campaign official on Monday denied that Giuliani’s case of coronavirus would impact their work.
“It’s not impacting us at all — he is continuing to work remotely with our national team and we have very able local counsel in all six states,” the senior campaign official said.
Neither Ellis nor the Trump campaign responded to a request for comment.
Source: https://www.politico.com/
