Trump surrenders to county jail over Georgia election interference case
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
This story has been updated.
Former President Donald Trump surrendered Thursday at the Fulton County Jail on charges related to alleged election interference in Georgia after the 2020 election.
“I’m writing to you from Trump Force One, on my way to Atlanta where I will be arrested despite having committed no crime,” Trump said in a fundraising email sent Thursday.
When Trump arrived in Georgia, he waved, gave the reporters a thumbs up, and said, “Thank you very much.”
His motorcade arrived at the county jail at around 5:15 p.m. MDT, where he surrendered to the authorities and departed less than 20 minutes later.
Trump previously agreed to pay a bond of $200,000 in addition to other release conditions, like not intimidating a co-defendant or witness, which includes posts or reposts on social media.
Records indicate he was booked on 13 charges.
Former president Trump arrives in Atlanta, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/P9iyVsE0BV
— CSPAN (@cspan) August 24, 2023
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis charged him and 18 others with 41 counts, including racketeering charges, in connection with efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results, as the Deseret News reported.
Trump, the GOP front-runner in the presidential race, skipped the first Republican primary debate on Wednesday and instead participated in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
Related
Trump talks indictment, President Biden and Jeffrey Epstein in Tucker interview
Trump says he will turn himself in over Georgia election interference charges
Trump supports protest outside county jail
Meanwhile, Laura Loomer, a controversial Trump supporter, led a rally outside the Fulton County jail to support the former president. Trump posted a link to a Newsweek article about the protest and a screenshot of Loomer’s post about her plans to be present at the county jail on his Truth Social account.
“People from all backgrounds and walks of life are outside of the Fulton County Jail today to support President Trump as we await his arrival to the jail where he is going to be processed,” Loomer wrote.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who joined the rally, posted a fake mug shot of herself with the caption: “I stand with President Trump against the commie DA Fani Willis who is nothing more than a political hitman tasked with taking out Biden’s top political opponent.”
I stand with President Trump against the commie DA Fani Willis who is nothing more than a political hitman tasked with taking out Biden’s top political opponent. “Persecution, not prosecution.” #MAGAMugshot pic.twitter.com/BLAJ16g6Je
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) August 24, 2023
Trump’s codefendants also surrender
Several of Trump’s co-defendants have also surrendered, including Trump’s attorneys, Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell.
Other co-defendants are pursuing their own legal strategies. Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows requested a federal court to dismiss all charges since he was carrying out Trump’s orders in an official capacity but the judge denied that request. He has since been booked, with his bond set at $100,000.
Meanwhile, former Georgia GOP chairman David Shafer, who is trying to move the case from state to federal court, was booked on Wednesday.
All defendants were asked to voluntarily surrender by Friday at noon or Willis said she would have to issue arrest warrants.
Willis has asked the court to set a trial date for Oct. 23 for all 19 defendants. According to NBC News, Trump said he opposed Willis’ motion and told the court that he will move to sever his case from those codefendants requesting a speedy trial.
Related
