The former president of the United States, Donald Trump, turned himself into the authorities on Thursday to be officially booked into the Fulton County jail in his fourth criminal case this year.
The Republican nominee arrived in Atlanta on a private plane that departed from his mansion in New Jersey. Arrival time was approximately 7:24 PM ET.
#BREAKING | Donald Trump arrives in Atlanta, Georgia to face arrest. pic.twitter.com/5b1DYRwNmZ
— VOZ (@Voz_US) August 24, 2023
Trump is accused of allegedly trying to reverse the results of the 2020 election.
It was a historic moment: Trump became the first president in the country's history to undergo the entire process leading up to a formal indictment.
Trump was fingerprinted and had a mugshot taken to create his file. Minutes later, following his brief arrest, he was released on bail.
#BREAKING | The Fulton County Sheriff's Office has released Donald Trump’s mugshot. #TrumpMugshot pic.twitter.com/uudqO0pRZL
— VOZ (@Voz_US) August 25, 2023
Bail was set for $200,000, an amount previously agreed upon by the authorities and Trump's defense.
The most expensive charge of $80,000 is for allegedly violating Georgias' Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
The former president had to pay $10,000 each for the other twelve crimes he faces.
Fulton County law enforcement officials were adamant: They will not grant special treatment to any of the 19 co-defendants in this case, including fingerprinting and a mugshot.
In addition to the monetary amount, Trump's bail order, signed by Georgia Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, also establishes a series of conditions for the former president's provisional release.
Explicitly, the order says Trump must not threaten or harass witnesses or co-defendants in the case, even on social media.
"The Defendant shall perform no act to intimidate any person known to him or her to be a co-defendant or witness in this case or to otherwise obstruct the administration of justice," reads the order, signed by attorneys Drew Findling, Marissa Goldberg and Jennifer Little, who represent Trump.
Among the charges the warrant mentions are a violation of Georgia's RICO Act, six counts of conspiracy, one count of producing false documents, three counts of criminal incitement and two counts of false statements.
"I am innocent"
A half-hour after being released on bail, the former president gave his first statements to the press, explaining that "this is a very sad day for America."
Trump used the moment to declare his innocence and criticize the criminal system: "When you have that great freedom through challenge, you have to be able to otherwise you can have very dishonest elections.".
"What has taken place here is a travesty of justice. We did nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong, and everybody knows that I've never had such support," the president continued. "We have every right, every single right to challenge an election that we think is dishonest."
#WATCH | Donald Trump: “What has taken place here is a travesty of justice. We did nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong.” pic.twitter.com/IthxdsHg49
— VOZ (@Voz_US) August 25, 2023
