Former US President Donald Trump called it a “sad day for America” after turning himself in on Thursday evening at Atlanta’s Fulton County Jail. Trump, along with 18 others, has been indicted for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election results in the state of Georgia.
Identified as inmate number P01135809 in the Fulton County criminal justice system, the 6ft 3in tall and 215 pounds (measured officially) Trump was in the jail for nearly 20 minutes, during which he was finger-printed and looked scowlingly at the camera when photographed for the first time in the four separate indictments he is facing. The mug shot was later released.
He was released on a previously agreed bail of $200,000 and spoke briefly to the press at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
“I really believe this is a sad day for America. This should never happen,” he said. “If you challenge an election, you should be able to challenge an election. I thought the election was a rigged election, a stolen election, and I should have every right to do that.”
Trump then posted on social media site X (formerly known as Twitter, where he has 86.6 million followers) for the first time since 8th January, 2021. He posted a photo of his mug shot from Fulton County Jail and the words ‘Election interference. Never surrender!’. It also contained a link to his website, which went to a fundraising page.
Unlike in the three other criminal cases in which Trump has been indicted, arrested and arraigned, it was the first time when he had to pose for a mug shot. Instead of a courthouse, as was the case in his other three indictments, he was taken to the jail after landing in Atlanta around 7 PM local time.
Trump also faces federal charges in Florida and Washington, and this month he was indicted in Atlanta with 18 others, including his ex-chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. District Attorney Fani Willis had given all of the defendants until Friday afternoon to turn themselves in at the main Fulton County jail.
Trump hired a new attorney for the Georgia case moments before his visit to the jail, with prominent Atlanta criminal defense attorney Steve Sadow taking over from Drew Findling. Trump was represented by Finding until Monday when his bond terms were negotiated.
Trump stands charged with 13 felony counts, including violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
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