Trump and all 18 others charged in Georgia election case meet the deadline to surrender at jail
By KATE BRUMBACK (Associated Press)
ATLANTA (AP) — Former President Donald Trump and the 18 people indicted along with him in Georgia on charges that they participated in a wide-ranging illegal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election have all turned themselves in to a jail in Atlanta before the deadline at noon Friday.
After Trump was booked Thursday evening — scowling at the camera for the first-ever mug shot of a former president — seven co-defendants who had not yet surrendered did so Friday morning. All but one of those charged had agreed to a bond amount and conditions with Fulton County District Fani Willis ahead of time, and they were free to go after booking.
Harrison William Prescott Floyd, who is accused of harassing a Fulton County election worker, did not negotiate a bond ahead of time and remained in the jail after turning himself in Thursday. Federal court records from Maryland show Floyd, identified as a former U.S. Marine who’s active with the group Black Voices for Trump, was also arrested three months ago on a federal warrant that accuses him of aggressively confronting two FBI agents sent to serve him with a grand jury subpoena.
This booking photo provided by Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, shows former President Donald Trump on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, after he surrendered and was booked at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta. Trump is accused by District Attorney Fani Willis of scheming to subvert the will of Georgia voters in a desperate bid to keep Joe Biden out of the White House. (Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 23: In this handout provided by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis poses for her booking photo on August 23, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Former President Donald Trump and 18 others facing felony charges in the indictment related to tampering with the 2020 election in Georgia have been ordered to turn themselves in by August 25. (Photo by Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 23: In this handout provided by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia lawyer Ray Smith poses for his booking photo on August 23, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Former President Donald Trump and 18 others facing felony charges in the indictment related to tampering with the 2020 election in Georgia have been ordered to turn themselves in by August 25. (Photo by Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 23: In this handout provided by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, former Coffee County GOP Chair Cathy Latham poses for her booking photo on August 23, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Former President Donald Trump and 18 others facing felony charges in the indictment related to tampering with the 2020 election in Georgia have been ordered to turn themselves in by August 25. (Photo by Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 23: In this handout provided by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, former Georgia State Sen. David Shafer poses for his booking photo on August 23, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Former President Donald Trump and 18 others facing felony charges in the indictment related to tampering with the 2020 election in Georgia have been ordered to turn themselves in by August 25. (Photo by Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 22: In this handout provided by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, John Eastman, former lawyer to former U.S. President Donald Trump poses for his booking photo on August 22, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Former President Donald Trump and 18 others facing felony charges in the indictment related to tampering with the 2020 election in Georgia have been ordered to turn themselves in by August 25. (Photo by Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 22: In this handout provided by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Scott Hall, a bail bondsman facing charges over a voting system breach in early 2021 poses for his booking photo on August 22, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Former President Donald Trump and 18 others facing felony charges in the indictment related to tampering with the 2020 election in Georgia have been ordered to turn themselves in by August 25. (Photo by Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 23: In this handout provided by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, former Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro poses for his booking photo on August 23, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Former President Donald Trump and 18 others facing felony charges in the indictment related to tampering with the 2020 election in Georgia have been ordered to turn themselves in by August 25. (Photo by Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)
This booking photo provided by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office shows Mark Meadows on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in Atlanta, after he surrendered and was booked. Meadows is charged alongside former President Donald Trump and 17 others, who are accused by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis of scheming to subvert the will of Georgia voters to keep the Republican president in the White House after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. (Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
This booking photo provided by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office shows Harrison Floyd on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in Atlanta, after he surrendered and was booked. Floyd is charged alongside former President Donald Trump and 17 others, who are accused by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis of scheming to subvert the will of Georgia voters to keep the Republican president in the White House after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. (Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 23: In this handout provided by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Rudy Giuliani, former personal lawyer for former President Donald Trump poses for his booking photo on August 23, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Former President Donald Trump and 18 others facing felony charges in the indictment related to tampering with the 2020 election in Georgia have been ordered to turn themselves in by August 25. (Photo by Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 23: In this handout provided by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, attorney Sidney Powell poses for her booking photo on August 23, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Former President Donald Trump and 18 others facing felony charges in the indictment related to tampering with the 2020 election in Georgia have been ordered to turn themselves in by August 25. (Photo by Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)
An official stands guard in front of the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Ben Gray)
The plane carrying former President Donald Trump taxis at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Fulton County Sheriff deputies place barricades outside the Fulton County Jail ahead of former President Donald Trump’s expected arrival on August 24, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. Former US President Donald Trump and 18 others were given until August 25, 2023 to surrender at the courthouse after being indicted on 41 counts related to their efforts to overturn the 2020 US Presidential election. (Photo by Christian MONTERROSA / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA/AFP via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 24: Supporters of former President Donald Trump pray 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)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 24: 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)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 24: Fulton County Sheriff’s Deputies place barricades outside of the Fulton County Jail ahead of former President Donald 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)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 24: A supporter 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)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 24: Supporters of former President Donald Trump, Georgina and Cliff MacMorris hold flags 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)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 24: Supporters of former President Donald Trump pray 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)
A counter protester waves anti-Trump signs outside the Fulton County Jail ahead of his expected arrival on August 24, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. Former US President Donald Trump and 18 others were given until August 25, 2023 to surrender at the courthouse after being indicted on 41 counts related to their efforts to overturn the 2020 US Presidential election. (Photo by Christian MONTERROSA / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA/AFP via Getty Images)
Next, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee is expected to set arraignments for each of the defendants in the coming weeks. That’s when they would appear in court for the first time and enter a plea of guilty or not guilty, though it is not uncommon for defendants in Georgia to waive arraignment.
The case filed under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, is sprawling, and the logistics of bringing it to trial are likely to be complicated. Legal maneuvering by several of those charged has already begun.
At least five of them are trying to move their cases to federal court. Two are former federal officials: former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former U.S. Department of Justice official Jeffrey Clark. The other three — former Georgia Republican Party chair David Shafer, Georgia state Sen. Shawn Still and Cathy Latham — are among the 16 Georgia Republicans who signed a certificate declaring falsely that Trump had won the 2020 presidential election and declaring themselves the state’s “duly elected and qualified” electors.
A judge is to hear arguments on Meadows’ request Monday and on Clark’s on Sept. 18. There has been speculation that Trump will also try to move to federal court.
One defendant, lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, who prosecutors say worked on the coordination and execution of a plan to have 16 Georgia Republicans sign a certificate declaring falsely that Trump won and declaring themselves the state’s “duly elected and qualified” electors, has filed a demand for a speedy trial. That requires his trial start by the end of the next court term, in this case by early November. The day after he filed that request, Willis — who has said she wants to try all 19 defendants together — proposed starting the trial for everyone on Oct. 23. The judge issued an order Thursday setting an Oct. 23 trial for Chesebro alone.
Trump attorney Steve Sadow on Thursday filed an objection to the proposed broad October trial date and a March date that Willis had previously suggested. He asked that Trump’s case be separated from Chesebro and any other codefendant who files a speedy trial demand.
