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.


0

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.


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.


Willis says she had 'a duty and a responsibility to bring charges'

Speaking on a local Atlanta radio show, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis defended her decision to bring the sprawling racketeering case, arguing that the case is an even-handed application of the law.

"There's really nothing sexy about this," Willis told Atlanta Up Close's Maria Boynton. "There's allegations of a crime, and then to look at the law and if the facts bear out that the law has been broken, then we have a duty and a responsibility to bring charges."

The DA also said that recent threats made against her will not deter her from pursuing her case against the former president and his co-defendants.

"In the words of Jay-Z, brush my shoulders off and we just keep pushing," Willis said. "That is not going to deter me from doing my job."

Willis described the process of determining defendants' bond amounts as "literally just plugging things in" to a formula based on factors related to a defendant's flight risk. She also reiterated her past statement about the requirement for all defendants to surrender for processing by Friday at noon.

"Should people fail to turn themselves in, then a warrant will be filed on the system, and they'll have to be arrested," she said.

Of the 19 defendants, 15 have negotiated their bond packages and nine have subsequently been booked and released.