Twice impeached four time indicted Donald Trump (Inmate No. P01135809) surrendered to authorities in Georgia on Thursday evening to face charges of attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the state. Trump, 77, arrived at the Fulton County jail shortly after 7:30 p.m. EDT and was booked on charges of racketeering, conspiracy to commit election fraud and solicitation of election fraud. Trump was released on a $200,000 bond.
Trump was indicted by a grand jury last week along with 18 other people, including his former lawyer Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. The indictment alleges that Trump and his associates engaged in a “criminal enterprise” to pressure Georgia officials to overturn the election results in his favor.The charges stem from a phone call that Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on January 2, 2021, in which he pressured Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to overturn his loss in the state. Trump also made false claims about the election being “stolen” and urged Raffensperger to “recalculate” the results.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has called the charges “baseless.” His lawyers have said they will fight the charges in court. The surrender came after a day of legal wrangling. Trump’s lawyers had tried to delay his surrender, but a judge denied their request.
Trump’s surrender is a significant development in the ongoing investigation into his efforts to overturn the election results. It is the first time that a former president has been indicted on criminal charges.The case is being closely watched by legal experts and political observers. Some have argued that the charges against Trump could be a test case for whether a former president can be prosecuted for crimes committed while in office.
Trump’s surrender is also likely to further divide the country along political lines. His supporters have accused him of being the victim of a political witch hunt, while his critics have called for him to be held accountable for his actions.
The case is still in its early stages, and it is unclear how it will ultimately be resolved. However, Trump’s surrender is a significant step forward in the investigation, and it is likely to keep the case in the headlines for months to come. In addition to the charges in Georgia, Trump is also facing a criminal investigation in New York for his business dealings. He is also the subject of a number of civil lawsuits alleging that he incited the January 6th attack on the Capitol.
Trump’s legal troubles are likely to cast a shadow over his political future. He has hinted that he may run for president again in 2024, but it is unclear if he will be able to overcome the legal challenges he faces.
Photo by State of Georgia