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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Trump motorcade pulls into Newark Airport
The motorcade carrying Trump has arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport, where the former president is expected to board a flight to Atlanta for his anticipated booking at the Fulton County Jail this evening.
Kenneth Chesebro's trial date set for Oct. 23
Judge Scott McAfee has set Kenneth Chesebro's trial to begin on Oct. 23, according to a scheduling order.
The attorney's arraignment will occur on Sept. 6, unless waived, according to the order.
The deadlines only apply to Chesebro and no other defendant, per the order, which follows Chesebro's request for a speedy trial filed on Wednesday.
District Attorney Fani Willis had requested an October trial date for all 19 defendants following Chesebro's request, but Trump is opposing that motion.
Trump motorcade leaves Bedminster, New Jersey
Trump's motorcade has left Bedminster, New Jersey, en route to Newark Liberty International Airport ahead of his anticipated booking at the Fulton County Jail this evening.
Mug shots released of Meadows, Harrison Floyd
The Fulton County Sheriff's Office has released mug shots of Mark Meadows and Harrison Floyd, the most recent of the case's 19 defendants to be booked.
All 19 defendants have negotiated their bond packages, except for Floyd, who remains in custody at the Fulton County Jail. Ten of the 19 defendants have been processed and released.
Willis opposes Meadows' motion to move case to federal court
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has responded to Mark Meadows' emergency motion to prevent his arrest and remove his case to federal court, arguing that the former Trump chief of staff's arguments are "baseless and in direct contravention with the requirements of the law."
"In essence, the defendant's emergency motion is a plea to this Court to prevent the defendant from being arrested on the charges lawfully brought by the State of Georgia," the response said, highlighting that Meadows had previously requested additional time to surrender on two occasions.
Willis argued that Meadows' removal motion only entitles him to an evidentiary hearing, which is already set for August 28; otherwise, criminal proceedings in the case, including his surrender, can continue as planned, the response said.
Meadows last week filed a motion to move his case on the basis of a federal law that he argued requires the removal of criminal proceedings brought in state court to the federal court system when someone is charged for actions they allegedly took as a federal official acting "under color" of their office.
Among other allegations, the DA's indictment says Meadows traveled to Cobb County Center and "attempted to observe the signature match audit being performed by law enforcement officers and officials from the Georgia Secretary of State despite the fact that the process was not open to the public" and that he sent a text message to a state investigator on Dec. 27, 2020, asking if there was a way to "speed up" results ahead of Jan. 6, "in furtherance of the conspiracy."