Georgia election case: Trump, other 18 defendants surrender to authorities

Shawn Still, a recently elected Georgia state senator who was one of the so-called "fake electors" accused in the DA's indictment of working to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, has filed a motion seeking to move his case to federal court -- making him the fourth defendant in the case to do so.

Former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, former DOJ official Jeffrey Clark, and former Georgia GOP chair David Shafer all previously filed their own motions seeking removal to federal court.

Although Still is not a federal official, his motion argues that he "was acting, or was acting under, an officer of the United States" in his role as an alternate elector -- a similar argument to Shafer's motion.

"That is, the role of presidential elector is a federal one -- created and directed by the United States Constitution and Congress. Thus, Mr. Still, acting as a presidential elector, was a federal officer," Still's filing says.

Still's filing also argues that he was following the advice of authorities on the matter, saying, "Mr. Still, as a presidential elector, was also acting at the direction of the incumbent President of the United States. The President's attorneys instructed Mr. Still and the other contingent electors that they had to meet and cast their ballots on December 14, 2020, in order to preserve the presidential election contest."

Still is charged with eight counts in the indictment, including impersonating a public officer and forgery in the first degree.

Chicago pastor Stephen Lee has turned himself in to authorities at the Fulton County Jail in the DA's sweeping racketeering case.

With Lee's surrender, all 19 defendants in the case have turned themselves in for processing before the noon deadline that had been set by the DA.

Lee is accused in the DA's indictment of trying to strong-arm election worker Ruby Freeman, who was falsely accused of stealing ballots.

Publicist Trevian Kutti has surrendered to authorities at the Fulton County Jail, leaving only one defendant remaining to turn themselves in before the DA's noon deadline, according to the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.

Former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark, Georgia state Sen. Shawn Still, former Coffee County elections director Misty Hampton, Georgia lawyer Robert Cheeley and Trump staffer Michael Roman all surrendered for processing since last night, the sheriff's office said.

The last remaining defendant is Chicago pastor Stephen Lee, who officials said is expected to surrender today.

Defendant John Eastman, who faces nine counts in the DA's indictment, said Trump's surrender to authorities Thursday was "a crossing of the Rubicon in our system of justice."

Speaking last night outside the California Bar Court where he is fighting disbarment, the former Trump attorney said he will mount a strong defense to the DA's case.

"We have very viable legal defenses and constitutional defenses," said Eastman, who was processed and released from Fulton County Jail Wednesday.

Eastman, who is accused of drafting a plan for Trump to cling to power by falsely claiming then-Vice President Mike Pence could reject legitimate electors during the Jan. 6 certification of the vote, has indicated that he will seek to sever his case from the other defendants.

"It's because we'd like to get out of it sooner," he told ABC News. "Because we did nothing wrong."