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

Former President Trump was processed and released on bail.

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.


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Mark Meadows released after being processed

Mark Meadows has been released after surrendering at the Fulton County Jail, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office said.

The former Trump chief of staff posted bond of $100,000.

The remaining eight defendants who have not yet turned themselves in are expected to surrender by Friday's noon deadline, the office said.


Harrison Floyd booked without securing bond

Harrison Floyd has been booked into Fulton County Jail, according to the Fulton County inmate database. No bond has been set for Floyd, according to his docket.

Floyd did not previously negotiate his bond agreement and remains in custody at the jail, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office said.

All of the other defendants who have been booked so far secured their bond package before entering the Fulton County Jail for processing.

The former director of Black Voices for Trump, Floyd allegedly worked to solicit Fulton County election worker Ruby Freeman.


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.


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.


4th defendant seeks to move case to federal court

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.