Trump Says He’ll Surrender To Georgia Authorities At 7:30 Tonight

Topline

Former President Donald Trump said he will turn himself in to Fulton County authorities at 7:30 p.m. Thursday to face charges in the Georgia election interference case against him—marking his fourth indictment since March and the only one so far in which he’s expected to have his mug shot taken at the Fulton County Jail.

Supporters of former President Donald Trump gather outside of the Fulton County Jail ahead of … [+] Trump’s surrender on August 24, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Trump and 18 others facing felony charges in the case related to the tampering of the 2020 Election in Georgia must surrender to authorities by August 25th. (Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

Trump made the announcement about his precise arrest time in a Truth Social post on Thursday afternoon, adding that he was preparing to depart his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club and residence for Atlanta.

Trump announced earlier this week he would turn himself in Thursday, ahead of the Friday deadline the district attorney’s office set for him and his other 18 co-defendants to surrender, following their indictments last Monday.

Trump insulted Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in the Truth Social post, calling her “a Radical Left, Lowlife District Attorney,” while also repeating his claims that he did nothing wrong during his infamous January 2021 phone call when he asked Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” votes to tip the election in his favor—a key piece of evidence in Willis’ case against him.

Crucial Quote

“I have to start getting ready to head down to Atlanta, Georgia, where Murder and other Violent Crimes have reached levels never seen before, to get ARRESTED by a Radical Left, Lowlife District Attorney, Fani Willis, for A PERFECT PHONE CALL, and having the audacity to challenge a RIGGED & STOLLEN ELECTION. THE EVIDENCE IS IRREFUTABLE!” Trump wrote.

Key Background

A Fulton County grand jury indicted Trump on 13 felonies in its long-running probe of his efforts to subvert results of the 2020 presidential election in the state. Eighteen co-defendants, including former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former Trump lawyers John Eastman and Rudy Giuliani, were indicted alongside Trump and also charged with racketeering. Trump’s co-defendants in the case began surrendering Tuesday, and at least nine of them have been booked and released from the Fulton County Jail. Trump agreed to a $200,000 bond as a condition of his release and is also required to abstain from threatening witnesses and his co-defendants in the case.

Tangent

Trump hired a new lawyer who specializes in racketeering cases and has a history of representing high-profile clients, Steven Sadow, on Thursday. Sadow is expected to replace attorney Drew Findling, a prominent lawyer among Atlanta’s hip-hop community who has represented Trump in the case for about a year.

What We Don’t Know

When a trial in the case could take place. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s office requested an October 23 trial date on Thursday, pushing up her initial request for a March 4 trial date in response to a speedy trial request from former Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro. Legal experts, however, have said a trial is unlikely to take place before next year’s general election in November, given the complexity of the case and the lengthy list of defendants. Trump’s attorneys are also likely to seek a delay in proceedings.

What To Watch For

The GOP-led House Judiciary Committee has launched a probe into Willis, alleging her case against Trump “appears to be an attempt to use state criminal law to regulate the conduct of federal officials,” according to a letter committee chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) sent to Willis Thursday. The investigation marks the committee’s latest against Trump adversaries, including Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith. Trump has also called on Georgia legislators to begin an impeachment inquiry into Willis, who he has viciously attacked during her office’s probe into his conduct, calling her racist and accusing her of prosecutorial misconduct.

Big Number

91. That’s the total number of charges Trump faces between his four indictments. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office indicted him in March on 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with an alleged hush-money scheme, marking the first-ever criminal indictment of a former or sitting U.S. president. The Justice Department has also charged him with 40 counts in its classified documents case against him and four counts in its case surrounding his role in the January 6 Capitol riots and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.