In an unprecedented event, former U.S. President Donald Trump has surrendered in Georgia on charges related to an alleged plot to overturn the state's 2020 election results. This arrest led to the release of the first-ever mugshot of a former U.S. president.
Mr. Trump surrendered at an Atlanta jail and paid a bail bond of $200,000 (£160,000) for his release while awaiting trial. He later described the case as "a travesty of justice."
This marks Trump's fourth arrest in five months, but it's the first time a police booking photo has been taken. He later posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, sharing his mugshot and the caption: "Election interference. Never surrender!"
Trump now joins other American public figures who have had arrest booking photos, such as Frank Sinatra, Al Capone, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Photo: FULTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
The former president argues that the cases against him are politically motivated, as he leads the Republican race to challenge President Joe Biden in the next presidential election.
Trump was charged last week with 18 co-defendants, including meddling in Georgia's election results. Among the 13 charges are racketeering, soliciting a public official to violate his oath of office, conspiracy to impersonate a public officer, conspiracy to commit forgery, and making false statements. He denies all counts.
Half of Trump's co-accused have already been booked at Fulton County Jail, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Trump also replaced his leading defense lawyer just hours before turning himself in.
One of the conditions of Trump's bail release is that he refrain from comments intended to "intimidate" witnesses or co-defendants and not communicate with other co-defendants except through his lawyers.
Before arriving in Georgia, Trump continued to criticize the prosecutor, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, a Democrat, accusing her of trying to sabotage his White House campaign.
