In a development that has upset the nation, former President Donald Trump voluntarily turned himself in to authorities in Fulton County, Georgia on Thursday evening. This move comes as he faces a series of felony charges related to his efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results.
Trump’s decision to cooperate with the legal proceedings resulted in a swift booking process that lasted around 30 minutes.
He had previously reached an agreement with the Fulton County District Attorney’s office, which included a $200,000 bond amid other release conditions including one that prohibits him from using social media to intimidate co-defendants, witnesses, or alleged victims involved in the case.
Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat confirmed that Trump’s mugshot was taken, marking an unprecedented moment for the former president. This is the fourth instance this year in which Trump has faced criminal charges, but the first time he was subjected to having his photograph taken upon surrendering.
During the booking, fingerprinting and biometric scans were carried out for identification purposes, and authorities recorded his height and weight as 6 feet 3 inches and 215 pounds, respectively. The record from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office also notes his distinctive features, describing his hair color as “blond or strawberry” and his eyes as blue.
While it is unclear when the GOP frontrunner will appear before a judge to be arraigned, he has consistently denied any wrongdoing, chalking the case up to election interference.
Following his brief encounter with authorities, he addressed the press, saying, “What is taking place here is a travesty of justice. We did nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong. And everybody knows it.”
He also expressed his belief that he and his co-defendants had committed no wrongdoing. He lamented the situation as “a very sad day for America,” insisting that his actions were merely an attempt to challenge what he perceived as a “rigged” and “stolen” election.
The former president passionately defended his right to question the election results, echoing the sentiments of many of his supporters. “I thought the election was a rigged election, a stolen election, and I should have every right to do that,” he said.
After leaving Atlanta, Trump took to Truth Social to share his mugshot writing, “election interference” and “never surrender.” He also made the same post on X, marking his first tweet after the suspension of his account in 2021 was lifted last November.
https://t.co/MlIKklPSJT pic.twitter.com/Mcbf2xozsY
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2023
Trump’s Save America PAC also incorporated the mugshot onto a fundraising t-shirt, illustrating his determination to turn this legal challenge into a rallying point for his supporters.
