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

Former President Trump was processed and released on bail.

Last Updated: August 24, 2023, 5:54 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 24, 2023, 2:48 PM EDT

Trump opposes DA's motion for October trial date

In Trump's first filing in the case, his attorney is now pushing back on the DA's motion -- which requested an Oct. 23 trial start date for all 19 defendants -- saying they oppose it.

"President Trump respectfully puts the Court on notice that he opposes the State's 'motion for entry of pretrial scheduling order' and 'motion to specially set trial,'" the filing states.

Trump attorney Steven Sadow also notified the court that they would be filing "a timely motion" to sever the case from Cheseboro -- who requested the speedy trial-- as well as any other defendant who "files such a demand."

"President Trump further respectfully puts the Court on notice that he requests the Court set a scheduling conference at its earliest convenience so he can be heard on the State's motions for entry of pretrial scheduling order and to specially set trial," the filing states.

Aug 24, 2023, 2:28 PM EDT

Mark Meadows booked into Fulton County Jail

Mark Meadows has been booked at the Fulton County Jail, according to the Fulton County inmate database.

The former chief of staff unsuccessfully tried to prevent his surrender by filing an emergency motion to stay earlier this week, which was rejected on Wednesday.

His bond has been set at $100,000.

Aug 24, 2023, 1:35 PM EDT

Bond for former DOJ official Jeffrey Clark set at $100,000

Bond for former Department of Justice official Jeffrey Clark has been set at $100,000.

Clark's bail conditions include not communicating with witnesses and co-defendants, reporting to pretrial services by phone every month, surrendering by noon on Friday and not obstructing justice by intimidating witnesses.

Jeffrey Clark, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, Sept. 14, 2020.
Susan Walsh/AP, FILE

Clark unsuccessfully tried to prevent his surrender by filing an emergency motion to stay earlier this week, which was rejected Wednesday in district court.

The indictment alleged that Clark, while serving as a high-ranking DOJ official, made false statements in writing and in person to the acting attorney general and deputy attorney general, requesting authorization to tell Georgia officials that the DOJ "identified significant concerns that may have impacted the outcome of the election in multiple States, including the State of Georgia.”

Aug 24, 2023, 1:09 PM EDT

DA Fani Willis requests trial date beginning Oct. 23

District Attorney Fani Willis requested a trial start date of Oct. 23, 2023, for all 19 defendants, according to a filing in response to Kenneth Chesebro's demand for a speedy trial.

"The State of Georgia, through Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis, and respectfully requests that this Court specially set the trial in this case to commence for all 19 defendants on October 23, 2023," the motion said.

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