Former President Trump turned himself in Thursday evening at Fulton County Jail on charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.
Trump is among 19 co-defendants who were indicted by a Georgia grand jury last week related to attempts to overturn the state’s election. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has given each of the co-defendants until Friday to “voluntarily surrender” or face an arrest warrant.
Hours before Trump surrendered, Willis filed for an October 23 start date for the trial. Trump attorneys swiftly filed to oppose that start date. Later in the day, Magistrate Judge Scott McAfee approved the October 23 trial date for just one co-defendant—attorney Kenneth Chesebro; it was his request for a speedy trial to which Willis’ filing had responded.
Along with other various charges, each of the co-defendants was charged with racketeering. Georgia’s RICO statute is much stricter than the federal statute, and a suspect could potentially face a maximum of 20 years in prison for each racketeering count.
Trump is also facing among 13 criminal counts solicitation of violation of oath by public officer, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree, conspiracy to commit false statements and writings, conspiracy to commit filing false documents, and conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree.
Altogether among four separate indictments—two federal indictments, a New York State indictment and the Georgia indictment—Trump is facing a total of 91 criminal charges.
On Monday, Trump agreed to the $200,000 bond deal. He is among 14 of the co-defenants who have so far agreed to a bond deal, the amounts of which range from $10,000 to his $200,000.
As of Thursday evening, the former President was among at least 12 of the co-defendants to have turned themselves in and had their mug shots taken.
Further, Trump shook up his Georgia legal team Thursday, replacing lead attorney Drew Findling with well-known Georgia lawyer Steven Sadow.
Trump’s surrender comes less than 24 hours after the first Republican Presidential primary debate was held in Milwaukee. Some 40 points or more ahead of his fellow GOP primary candidates in current polls, Trump did not attend, instead opting to pre-record an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that played on social media.
During the debate, the eight qualifying GOP candidates were asked onstage if they would still support Trump as their party’s nominee if he’s convicted in any of his four ongoing legal battles. All but two—former Govs. Chris Christie of New Jersey and Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, indicated that they would.
