Former President Donald Trump surrendered at a jail in Atlanta on Thursday to face charges related to his alleged involvement in scheming to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Trump, along with 18 others, was indicted last week on accusations of participating in a conspiracy to overturn his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. This marks the fourth criminal case against Trump since March, making him the first former president in U.S. history to be indicted.
Unlike his previous surrenders, Trump’s visit to Atlanta required him to surrender at a jail instead of a courthouse. He arrived in Atlanta and was driven to the jail for the booking process. Trump’s surrender comes amidst a shake-up of his legal team and follows a presidential debate in Milwaukee featuring his leading rivals for the 2024 Republican nomination.
The Fulton County prosecution, led by District Attorney Fani Willis, charged Trump and the others under a racketeering statute typically associated with organized crime. Trump’s ex-chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani were among those indicted. Giuliani surrendered on Wednesday and posed for a mug shot, while Meadows turned himself in on Thursday.
Fulton County officials have stated that they expect to take a booking photo of Trump, similar to any other defendant. The defendants have until Friday afternoon to turn themselves in, and the prosecution proposed an October 23 trial date. Trump recently hired a new lead attorney, Steve Sadow, for the Georgia case, replacing Drew Findling.
The charges against Trump have led to a series of bookings and court appearances, which his campaign has used as fundraising opportunities. Trump’s legal team has portrayed the charges as politically motivated attempts to damage his chances of reelection in 2024.
The Atlanta surrender marks a significant development in Trump’s legal battles, taking place in a battleground state crucial to the upcoming presidential election.
