Former President Donald Trump is surrendering to authorities at Atlanta’s Fulton County jail.
Hours before the GOP front-runner’s arrival, a group of enthusiastic Trump supporters, journalists and a massive law enforcement presence braved the heat outside the imposing complex.
Trump’s allies continue to argue that the First Amendment protects his unfounded election conspiracies, while District Attorney Fani Willis’ indictment accuses Trump of knowingly spreading false claims in a convoluted scheme to replace Georgia’s authorized presidential electors.
The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office charged Trump with 13 counts in its election subversion probe, including a violation of the state’s anti-racketeering statute, soliciting a public officer to violate their oath, conspiring to impersonate a public officer and conspiring to commit forgery in the first degree.
Reports Thursday afternoon first suggested Trump sought to arrive in Atlanta during prime-time cable news hours to maximize media coverage.
Later, Trump confirmed he would turn himself in at 7:30 (EDT). (RELATED: Georgia Judge To Allow Cameras In Courtroom If Trump Indicted)
He is expected to be fingerprinted and have his mugshot taken.
District Attorney Fani Willis has requested the trial for Trump and the 18 other co-defendants in the election subversion case to begin on Oct. 23. Refraining from “intimidating” people involved in the case is a condition of Trump’s release.
The former president is expected to make a statement from the tarmac at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport before returning to Bedminster, New Jersey.
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