Trump's Surrender in Georgia Marks His Fourth Arrest Since April, as He Faces Charges of Election Scheme
Former President Donald Trump announces surrender to Georgia authorities to face charges related to overturning the 2020 election. Bond set at $200,000, his fourth arrest. Trump's surrender follows a meeting with prosecutors. Prohibited from intimidating co-defendants, witnesses, and victims. Hard lockdown expected during surrender, but quick release anticipated. Trump facing multiple charges, including RICO charge. Arraignments proposed for next year. Trump denies wrongdoing and claims charges are politically motivated. Allies, including Meadows, Giuliani, and Clark, also charged.
Former President Donald Trump announced on social media that he will surrender to authorities in Georgia on Thursday to face charges related to his alleged scheme to overturn the 2020 election results.
Trump's bond has been set at $200,000 and this will be his fourth arrest since April. His previous appearances in New York, Florida, and Washington, D.C. have garnered significant media attention, with news helicopters tracking his movements.
Trump and his 18 co-defendants have until noon ET this Friday to voluntarily surrender to Georgia law enforcement authorities after being criminally charged in the state’s 2020 election subversion case. Trump is expected to turn himself in to the Fulton County jail Thursday or… pic.twitter.com/Aw3ewsMQhC
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) August 21, 2023
The announcement of Trump's surrender came after his attorneys met with prosecutors in Atlanta to discuss the details of his release on bond. As part of the bond agreement, Trump is prohibited from intimidating co-defendants, witnesses, or victims through social media or any other means.
He has frequently used social media to attack those involved in the criminal cases against him, including Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. The agreement also forbids Trump from making direct or indirect threats against witnesses or co-defendants and from discussing the facts of the case with them, except through his attorneys.
According to Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat, there will be a "hard lockdown" of the area surrounding the jail when Trump surrenders. However, it is expected that he will not spend much time there as he will be released once the booking process is complete.
In Fulton County, arraignments typically occur after defendants complete the booking process, and bond amounts are often worked out between the defense attorneys and the district attorney's office before arraignment. Trump is facing multiple charges in the case, including a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) charge, with bond set at $80,000, and 12 other counts, with an additional $10,000 each.
The deadline for Trump and his 18 co-defendants to turn themselves in for booking is noon on Friday. Fulton County District Attorney Willis has proposed that the arraignments take place during the week of September 5, and she aims to try the defendants together with the trial scheduled for March of next year.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and claims that the charges are an attempt to undermine his 2024 presidential campaign. Recently, he has used his Truth Social platform to attack those involved in his cases and spread false claims about the 2020 election.
In response to his indictment, Trump referred to Fulton County District Attorney Willis as "crooked, incompetent, & highly partisan" and targeted Governor Kemp for his refusal to intervene in the election.
In addition to Trump, several of his allies have also been charged in connection with the alleged scheme to overturn the election, including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, and former Trump administration Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark.