Donald Trump is about to flip himself in to authorities within the US state of Georgia, the place the previous United States president faces prison fees over his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Trump has mentioned he’ll journey to the Fulton County jail within the state capital, Atlanta, on Thursday, however he has not given a selected time for his arrival.
It will likely be the fourth such give up since April for Trump, who has been indicted in three different prison instances this yr however stays the frontrunner within the Republican Celebration’s 2024 presidential nomination race.
Whereas some elements of the authorized proceedings in Georgia will likely be acquainted, others are set to be new as a result of that is the primary prison case Trump has confronted underneath the state’s jurisdiction.
Right here’s what to you should know:
What’s going to occur when Trump surrenders?
Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat has pressured that he plans to deal with Trump the identical method he treats different suspects booked on the Fulton County jail.
Which means Trump will possible be fingerprinted and have his mugshot taken after he turns himself in.
If that does occur, it is going to be the primary time the previous president has had his mugshot taken in any of the 4 prison instances in opposition to him. His authorized staff had been in a position to evade the frequent process beforehand.
“Except anyone tells me otherwise, we’re following our regular practices, and so [it] doesn’t matter your standing, we received mugshots prepared for you,” Labat instructed native media after Trump’s indictment this month.
The jail is open 24 hours a day and Georgia authorities have given the ex-president and his 18 co-defendants till Friday at midday (16:00 GMT) to show themselves in.
Will Trump keep in jail?
The Fulton County jail has turn into infamous for its unsanitary and unsafe situations, and the US Division of Justice final month opened an investigation into the ability.
Fifteen incarcerated individuals died on the jail final yr, in accordance with the Atlanta Journal-Structure, and there have been 4 deaths reported previously 5 weeks.
Nonetheless, Trump will not be anticipated to spend lengthy there. His authorized staff has already negotiated a $200,000 bond settlement, which means he will likely be instantly launched after being booked and paying not less than 10 % of the bond.
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Workplace has mentioned there will likely be “a tough lockdown” of the realm surrounding the jail with nobody allowed in or out when Trump arrives.
Trump’s former lawyer John Eastman and Republican ballot watcher Scott Corridor, who have been additionally charged within the case, surrendered on Tuesday.
When will Trump be arraigned?
In every of the opposite prison instances in opposition to Trump this yr, the previous president was booked, after which shortly afterwards, he was taken earlier than a decide for a quick arraignment listening to to formally hear the fees and enter his plea.
In Georgia, these processes will likely be completed individually.
Fani Willis, the Fulton County district lawyer, who introduced the case in opposition to Trump and his co-defendants, has requested for the arraignments to happen the week of September 5 and for the trial to start on March 4, 2024. No dates have at the moment been set.
The arraignment in Georgia may be distinctive as a result of tv cameras are typically allowed in courtrooms within the state relying on the decide’s discretion.
That will stand other than Trump’s arraignment in New York in April on fees linked to a hush-money cost made to a porn star, the place solely nonetheless cameras have been allowed.
It will additionally differ from Trump’s two earlier federal arraignments – on election interference fees and allegations he mishandled secret authorities paperwork – after which solely courtroom sketches of Trump have been launched.
Choose Scott McAfee, who’s presiding over the Georgia case, can determine whether or not Trump wants to seem in individual for his arraignment or whether or not he can seem nearly.
What have been Trump and his co-defendants charged with?
In the 98-page Georgia indictment launched final week, prosecutors charged Trump and his 18 co-defendants – together with Trump’s White Home Chief of Workers Mark Meadows and his high-profile private lawyer Rudy Giuliani – with a complete of 41 prison counts.
Trump faces 13 fees, together with soliciting a public officer to violate his oath, conspiracy to commit forgery, and making false statements and filings.
All the defendants, together with Trump, additionally face a racketeering cost underneath the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, generally known as RICO.
The cost, which is often reserved for organised crime and corruption, permits prosecutors to focus on a number of individuals who commit separate crimes whereas working in the direction of a standard objective.
The Georgia case can be the primary time Trump has confronted fees that carry a minimal sentence. That will imply that if convicted on these fees, the ex-president can be required to serve jail time.
Will the Georgia case have an effect on Trump’s re-election bid?
The Georgia case together with Trump’s three different prison indictments have created a scheduling headache for the ex-president as he seeks the Republican presidential nomination.
The trials are prone to start within the warmth of the 2024 marketing campaign season, and Trump’s authorized staff is predicted to attempt to delay the beginning of the authorized proceedings.
Beneath the US Structure, there is no such thing as a restriction on Trump working for or being elected president, even when he’s convicted of the crimes. Nonetheless, the present scenario is unprecedented, and it’s unclear how a doable jail sentence can be navigated.
Trump has denied the fees in all of the instances, saying the indictments are a part of a coordinated political assault that goals to derail his re-election bid.
