Trump’s surrender to law enforcement authorities has become a common election season routine, overshadowing the unprecedented spectacle of a former president being opened on felony criminal charges in four different cities.
But his visit to Atlanta was markedly different from the past three surrenders in that it took place at night, rather than requiring him to visit troubled prisons — not courts — and not in a liberal state like New York or Washington. Not in the fortress, but in the center of a battleground state crucial to the 2024 presidential election. Unlike other cities that don’t require him to pose for a mugshot, Fulton County officials said they want appointment photos taken like the other defendants.
Trump, who arrived in Atlanta just after 7 p.m., was due to make his way through the city’s rush-hour traffic and be taken to the prison for his booking. Wearing his signature white shirt and red tie, he waved and gave everyone a thumbs up as he descended the steps of his private jet.
The Fulton County indictment is the fourth criminal case against Trump since he took office in March. First ex-president to be indicted in U.S. history.He has since faced federal charges Florida and washingtonHe was indicted this month along with 18 others in Atlanta, including his former chief of staff Mark Meadows and the former New York mayor. Rudy Giuliani – Under racketeering statutes typically associated with gang membership and organized crime.
Giuliani surrendered and had a mugshot on Wednesday. Meadows, who had tried to avoid turning himself in as he sought to move the case to federal court, turned himself in on Thursday. The bond was set at $100,000.
The criminal cases sparked a series of subpoenas and arraignments, with Trump briefly appearing in court before returning to the 2024 campaign. He’s turned those appearances into a campaign with a far smaller schedule than his rivals, with staff delighted by a media deluge that includes news helicopters tracking his every move.
The campaign also used appearances to To raise funds His supporters, who are aides, have described the charges as part of a politically motivated effort to hurt his re-election chances. As Trump was en route from New Jersey to Atlanta, his campaign sent a message saying: “I am writing to you from Trump Unit One, en route to Atlanta, although I have committed no crime, I will Arrested in Atlanta.”
From noon to night, dozens of trump supporter As officials tightened security, some gathered outside the prison where the former president was preparing to surrender, some waving flags with Trump’s name on them.
District Attorney Fani Willis has given all defendants until Friday afternoon to turn themselves in at the Fulton County Main Jail. On Thursday, her office proposed a trial date of Oct. 23, though the complexity of the 19-person case — and potential scheduling conflicts with Trump’s other indictments — seemed to make that date nearly impossible. The date appears to be in response to earlier legal action by at least one defendant, Kenneth Chesebro, who has called for a speedy trial.
Just before his expected capitulation, Trump hired a new lead attorney for the Georgia case.
Prominent Atlanta criminal defense attorney Steve Sadow takes over from another high-profile criminal defense attorney, Drew Findling, as he negotiates bail terms on Monday Has represented Trump. But by Thursday, Fendelin was no longer part of the team, according to a person familiar with the matter. The people requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Sadow has represented rapper Gunna, He pleaded guilty last year in a racketeering case also filed by Willis“The president should not be indicted,” he said in a statement. He is innocent of all charges against him. “
“We look forward to the dismissal of the case or, if necessary, the acquittal of the President by a fair and open jury,” he added. has no place in it.”
This is not the first time Trump has restructured his legal team this year, either before or after the indictment. One of his top lawyers, Tim Parlatore, left the legal team weeks before Trump was indicted in Florida. Allegations of illegal hoarding of classified documents, citing clashes with top Trump advisers. Two other attorneys, James Trusty and John Rowley, resigned the morning after the indictment was returned.
Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He said in a social media post this week that he was indicted over a “perfect phone call” in which he asked Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to help him. “11,780 votes found” Let him reverse a loss in the state to Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump is expected to turn himself in at the Fulton County Jail, which has long been a troubled facility.Department of Justice last month open civil rights inquiry Conditions in the prison, including squalid cells, violence and the circumstances surrounding the death of a man last year when he was found in the body of the main prison psychiatric unit. Three people have died in Fulton County custody over the past month.
But Trump is not expected to spend much time there.
His lawyers and prosecutors have agreed to post a $200,000 bond with conditions, including prohibiting the former president from intimidating co-defendants, witnesses or victims in the case.
When defendants arrive at the prison, they usually go through a security checkpoint and then formally register in the lobby. During the booking process, defendants are typically photographed and fingerprinted and asked to provide certain personal information. As Trump’s bail has been set, he will be released once the booking process is complete.
Unlike other jurisdictions, in Fulton County, arraignment (the defendant’s first court appearance) typically occurs after the defendant turns himself in at the jail and completes the booking process, rather than on the same day. That means Trump may have to make two trips to Georgia in the next few weeks, though the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office said some arraignments in the case could be virtual if the judge allows it, or he could drop Trump’s case. Trump’s arraignment.
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