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Former President Donald Trump surrendered to authorities in Georgia last Thursday night following his indictment the previous week. The indictment accuses him of collaborating with allies to overturn the 2020 election results in favor of Joe Biden.
Trump turned himself in at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, where he was photographed and booked—a unique step as this didn’t occur in his other indictments. Consequently, he became the first U.S. president to have a mugshot. The booking details listed his height at 6 feet, 3 inches, and weight at 215 lbs. The judge set his bond at $200,000.
Together with 18 others, Trump faces a 41-count indictment for allegedly conspiring to undermine the presidential election results in various jurisdictions, including Fulton County and other parts of Georgia. The charges suggest they misled voters, courts, and lawmakers in order to maintain Trump’s hold on power. Among these charges, Trump himself faces 13 separate counts.
The investigation, led by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, began in February 2021 after a released recording revealed Trump pressuring Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find additional votes for him. This was after Georgia had already certified the results through multiple recounts.
As part of his bond conditions, Trump is prohibited from making threats—direct or indirect—against witnesses, victims, or co-conspirators mentioned in the indictment. He is also not allowed to discuss the case with known witnesses, except through legal representation.
Before heading to Georgia from his New Jersey home, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, claiming he was being arrested for a “perfect phone call” and for challenging the election. He switched his legal team, enlisting Atlanta defense attorney Steve Sadow as lead attorney.
The indictment outlines a broad effort involving false court representations, accusations against poll workers, and misuse of the Justice Department to influence lawmakers. It details a plan to assemble fake electors to cast ballots for Trump secretly, aiming to cast doubt on the election during the congressional certification on January 6, 2021.
Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows also surrendered, and his bond was set at $100,000. Willis moved the trial start date to October 23 following a request from Trump’s co-defendant, Kenneth Chesebro, who demanded a speedy trial. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee agreed to this date for Chesebro’s trial.
House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan announced a probe into whether federal funds were used for Willis’ investigation. Trump’s co-defendants had to surrender by a certain deadline, with most of them booking at the Fulton County Jail. Trump’s former attorneys, Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, along with five others, were processed and released on bond. John Eastman, a California attorney and Trump ally, also surrendered and is accused of pressuring then-Vice President Mike Pence and assisting in organizing fake elector slates.
Source: LA Times/Yahoo News
