Former President Donald Trump is on his way to Atlanta, Georgia, where he will be arrested and booked on charges of racketeering, fraud, and false statements in connection with his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state.
Trump is expected to surrender at the Fulton County Jail around 7:30 p.m. ET, according to a post he made on his social media platform Truth Social. He will be fingerprinted and have his mugshot taken, which will be released by the sheriff's office. He will then appear before a judge and plead not guilty to the 13 counts he is facing.
Trump is the last of the 19 defendants in the case to turn themselves in. The deadline for voluntary surrender is Friday at noon. Among the other defendants are Trump's former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and former acting attorney general Jeffrey Clark. All of them have denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the charges are politically motivated.
The indictment, which was issued by a grand jury last week, accuses Trump and his associates of conspiring to pressure Georgia officials, including Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Governor Brian Kemp, to overturn the election results that showed Joe Biden winning the state by more than 11,000 votes. The indictment alleges that Trump and his co-conspirators made false and misleading statements about voter fraud, ballot tampering, and election irregularities, and threatened to harm the reputations and careers of those who refused to comply with their demands.
The indictment also alleges that Trump and his co-conspirators violated Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, which is typically used to prosecute organized crime. The RICO charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
The case is being led by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, a Democrat who took office in January. Willis has said that she is pursuing justice and accountability for the people of Georgia, and that no one is above the law.
Trump's arrest marks a historic moment in American politics, as he becomes the first former president to be criminally charged for his actions while in office. Trump has repeatedly claimed that he won the 2020 election by a landslide, and that it was stolen from him by a massive conspiracy involving Democrats, the media, tech companies, foreign countries, and even some Republicans. He has refused to concede defeat or acknowledge Biden as the legitimate president.
Trump's false claims of election fraud sparked a wave of lawsuits, audits, and investigations across the country, none of which found any evidence of widespread voter fraud or irregularities that could have changed the outcome of the election. Trump's claims also fueled anger and resentment among his supporters, some of whom stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying Biden's victory. The violent insurrection resulted in five deaths and hundreds of injuries, and led to Trump's second impeachment by the House of Representatives. He was later acquitted by the Senate.
Trump's arrest could have significant implications for his political future, as he has hinted at running for president again in 2024. He remains popular among many Republicans, who view him as their leader and champion. However, he also faces several other legal challenges, including investigations into his business dealings in New York, his taxes in Washington D.C., and his inaugural committee in Maryland.
Trump's arrest could also affect the balance of power in Congress, as Georgia is set to hold two special elections next year to fill the seats vacated by Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, who were appointed to Biden's cabinet. Both Ossoff and Warnock won their races in January by narrow margins, giving Democrats control of the Senate. If Republicans win back those seats, they could regain control of the chamber and block Biden's agenda.
As Trump prepares to face justice in Georgia, many Americans are watching closely to see how this unprecedented case will unfold. Will Trump be convicted or acquitted? Will he cooperate or resist? Will he accept or reject the verdict? And what will this mean for the future of democracy in America? Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
(1) Former President Trump to surrender for arrest at Fulton County jail in election case. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-arrest-fulton-county-booked-rcna101641.
(2) McConnell plows through farm bill speech with no mention of Trump hours before expected arrest. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mcconnell-plows-through-farm-bill-speech-with-no-mention-of-trump-hours-before-expected-arrest/ar-AA1fJKME.
(3) No, this image doesn't show Donald Trump's mugshot from Fulton County | Fact check. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/no-this-image-doesn-t-show-donald-trump-s-mugshot-from-fulton-county-fact-check/ar-AA1fJt6z.
(4) Trump to be arrested in Georgia after last week's indictment: Live updates. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/live-blog/trump-arraignment-georgia-indictment-live-updates-rcna100652.
(5) Donald Trump to be arrested in Georgia: Live updates - CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/24/donald-trump-to-be-arrested-in-georgia-live-updates.html.
(6) Trump is now under arrest and booked on federal charges - CNN. https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/donald-trump-indictment-court-appearance-06-13-23/h_c8c5abdb189db36eb42dd2f945ce5b42.
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