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

Former President Trump was processed and released on bail.

Last Updated: August 25, 2023, 5:44 PM EDT

Former President Donald Trump and the 18 other defendants charged by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis for their alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia all surrendered to authorities at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta.

Trump and 17 other defendants were processed and released on bail, with one defendant held without bond. Several defendants also mounted legal challenges to the DA's case.

Top headlines:

Here's how the news developed. All times Eastern.
Aug 23, 2023, 5:59 PM EDT

Chesebro files request for a speedy trial

Attorney Kenneth Chesebro, one of the 19 defendants charged in the DA's indictment, has filed a request for a speedy trial -- a development that a RICO expert says could have a "massive" impact on the case.

Chris Timmons, a former Georgia prosecutor who is an expert on Georgia racketeering laws -- which are known as RICO for short -- tells ABC News that when a defendant files a speedy trial demand, they have to be tried within a certain amount of time, or they are acquitted by law.

Though it's not immediately clear what the exact effect will be in this case, Timmons said that many of the defendants won't be ready for trial that quickly, meaning the case could end up having multiple trials.

"That completely changes the strategy of this trial," Timmons said.

Referring to his time as a prosecutor, Timmons said, "We used to view [speedy trial requests] as a declaration of war. It means you are ready to go now."

Cheseboro, a former Trump-aligned attorney, faces seven counts in the indictment, which alleges that he outlined "multiple strategies for disrupting and delaying the joint session of Congress on January 6, 2021."

Aug 23, 2023, 5:35 PM EDT

Judge denies Clark's motion for emergency stay

United States District Court Judge Steve Jones has denied Jeffrey Clark's motion for an emergency stay in his case.

Clark, a former Justice Department official, had sought an emergency stay of the Fulton County proceedings, including his arrest warrant, until after Labor Day, so a judge could rule on his motion to remove his case to federal court.

Clark, in a separate motion, is seeking to remove his case to federal court on the basis that he was serving as a high-ranking DOJ official during the timeframe alleged in the DA's indictment. Former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows and former Georgia GOP chair David Shafer have also filed similar motions.

Clark is accused in the indictment of urging senior DOJ officials to falsely tell Georgia state officials that the DOJ had "identified significant concerns" about the tabulation of election returns in the state.

Aug 23, 2023, 5:19 PM EDT

Mug shots released of Giuliani, Powell, Ellis

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office has released mug shots of three of the attorneys who prosecutors say helped lead the efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.

Authorities released mug shots taken of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Trump campaign lawyers Sydney Powell and Jenna Ellis.

All three were processed at the Fulton County Jail and released on bail.

Rudy Giuliani is seen in a mugshot provided by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, Aug. 23, 2023.
Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Reuters

Sydney Powell is seen in a mugshot provided by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, Aug. 23, 2023.
Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Reuters

Jenna Ellis is seen in a mugshot provided by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, Aug. 23, 2023.
Fulton County Sheriff's Office

Aug 23, 2023, 4:38 PM EDT

Mug shots released of first 6 defendants processed

Authorities have released mug shots of the first six defendants to surrender in the election interference case.

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office released mug shots taken of attorneys John Eastman and Kenneth Chesebro, former Georgia GOP chair David Shafer, former Coffee County GOP chair Cathy Latham, Georgia lawyer Ray Smith III and Georgia bail bondsman Scott Hall.

All six have been processed at the Fulton County Jail and released on bail.

John Eastman is seen in a mugshot provided by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, Aug. 22, 2023.
Fulton County Sheriff's Office

Kenneth Chesebro is seen in a mugshot provided by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, Aug. 23, 2023.
Fulton County Sheriff's Office

PHOTO: Cathleen Latham is seen in a mugshot provided by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, Aug. 23, 2023.
David Shafer is seen in a mugshot provided by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, Aug. 23, 2023.
Fulton County Sheriff's Office

Cathy Latham is seen in a mugshot provided by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, Aug. 23, 2023.
Fulton County Sheriff's Office

Ray Smith is seen in a mugshot provided by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, Aug. 23, 2023.
Fulton County Sheriff's Office

Scott Hall is seen in a mugshot provided by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, Aug. 22, 2023.
Fulton County Sheriff's Office

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