The surrender comes in response to over a dozen charges linked to his alleged involvement in attempting to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election outcomes.
Having agreed to a $200,000 bond and other stringent release conditions earlier this week, Trump is prohibited from utilising social media to target co-defendants and witnesses involved in the ongoing case.
This marks the fourth instance this year in which the former president has voluntarily turned himself over to either local or federal authorities due to criminal accusations.
Trump addressed reporters after leaving the jail, where he described the situation as “a very sad day for America,” adding he should have the right to challenge the outcome of an election.
Trump arrives under a “hard lockdown”
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office has announced that Trump’s arrival will lead to a “hard lockdown” in the surrounding area.
While he has previously been booked and arraigned in three other prosecutions, this instance will be the first to include a mug shot, which is anticipated to be made public.
Preceding his surrender, Trump made changes to his legal team, enlisting the expertise of Steven Sadow, a seasoned Atlanta-based lawyer specialising in white-collar and high-profile defence.
Notably, Sadow, reported to be Trump’s new lead lawyer in the case, will accompany Trump during the booking process at the Atlanta jail.
In a social media update on Thursday afternoon, the former president stated his intention to surrender at 7:30 p.m. ET, with the booking process expected to be brief, lasting under an hour.
As part of an agreement reached earlier in the week between Trump’s attorneys and Georgia prosecutors, a $200,000 bond was set.
The terms of this agreement prohibit Trump from engaging in any actions that could intimidate his co-defendants, witnesses, or alleged victims in the case, including on social media.
Will Trump be fingerprinted?
Trump is expected to be treated like any other defendant during his time at the Fulton County jail. Apart from the standard booking procedures such as fingerprinting, defendants are subjected to biometric identification through eye scans.
Defendants have various options to post bond, which includes cash, commercial surety, or putting up 10% of the bail amount. This allows them to remain free while their case unfolds, with the bond serving as a guarantee of their appearance in court.
The booking and arraignment processes are distinct in Fulton County, meaning that Trump’s appearance in court will not occur on Thursday.
The timing of Trump’s appearance before a judge for arraignment and plea entry remains uncertain. District Attorney Fani Willis proposed that all 19 individuals charged under Georgia’s racketeering law in connection to the 2020 election case have their arraignments during the week of September 5th, though the judge’s approval is still pending.
Willis stipulated a noon deadline on Friday for all defendants to surrender at the Fulton County jail. Already, at least nine individuals, including Trump’s former lawyer Rudy Giuliani, have complied.
The former president has consistently denied any wrongdoing in the case, asserting that Willis is spearheading a politically motivated “witch hunt” aimed at undermining his electoral prospects for the 2024 election.
What’s in the indictment?
The indictment, comprising 41 counts, alleges Trump’s involvement in a “criminal enterprise” that sought to reverse his loss in Georgia’s 2020 presidential election.
The charges include making false statements to state officials and legislatures, fabricating counterfeit Electoral College documents, enlisting supporters to cast fraudulent votes, harassing an election worker, and “corruptly” seeking support from senior Justice Department officials and then-Vice President Mike Pence.
Among the 13 counts Trump faces are an alleged violation of Georgia’s racketeering law, making false statements and writings, and conspiring to commit forgery in connection to an alleged plot to replace duly elected presidential electors with new ones who would vote for him.
The Fulton County prosecution marks Trump’s fourth criminal case, leading to his fourth booking since April.
He’s also entangled in two federal cases overseen by special counsel Jack Smith—one in South Florida concerning sensitive government records, and the other in Washington, D.C., stemming from alleged attempts to impede the transfer of presidential power post the 2020 election.
Furthermore, Trump faces 34 state felony charges in New York related to an alleged “hush-money” payment scheme aimed at concealing damaging information before the 2016 presidential election. Trump has pleaded not guilty in all three previous cases, maintaining that they are motivated by political considerations.
