It was an expedited procedure; the former president’s booking was processed before he even walked through the intake center’s doors, his height and weight already recorded. Earlier on social media, Trump posted that he would “proudly be arrested” for fighting for election integrity like “nobody has ever.”
The mugshot was released about an hour after the booking.
President Trump was released on a $200,000 bond, and spoke to reporters afterward on the tarmac before flying back to Florida.
“I really believe this is a very sad day for America, this should never have happened,” he said. “When you have the great freedom to challenge, you have to, otherwise you’re going to have a very dishonest election.”
Many others have challenged elections, he added, such as Hillary Clinton, who ran against him in 2016, and Stacey Abrams who refused to concede in the 2018 race against Brian Kemp for the Georgia governor’s seat.
“What has taken place here is a travesty of justice. We did nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong,” Trump said, adding that he’s “never had such support.”
He decried the four separate cases against him as “election interference,” pointing out the irony of being indicted over making requests to investigate election fraud.
“There’s never been anything like it in our country before,” he said. “We did nothing wrong at all, and we have every right—every single right—to challenge an election that we think is dishonest.”
The prosecutor, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, had given President Trump and the 18 co-defendants until noon on Aug. 25 to surrender, or face arrest. In total, the defendants were charged with a total of 41 counts, including violating the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
In his first post on X since Jan. 8, 2021, President Trump posted his mugshot on Thursday evening with the message: “ELECTION INTERFERENCE. NEVER SURRENDER!”
President Trump’s campaign is expected to utilize the mugshot as a fundraising opportunity; after his first indictment in April, his campaign began selling t-shirts with a fake mugshot and the words “Not Guilty” underneath.
13 Mugshots
Thirteen of the 19 co-defendants have already surrendered and been released on bond, and some have commented on their mugshots.David Shafer, former chair of the Georgia Republican Party, posted a picture of his smiling mugshot on X and used it as his profile picture.
“But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you,” she quoted. “But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”
Both Ms. Ellis and Mr. Shafer are crowdfunding their legal fees for the Fulton County case.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani noted the irony of being cheered by people behind bars as he walked through the jail to have his mugshot taken, when he had spent a career putting criminals behind bars as a U.S. Attorney. He had been asked about the requirement previously on WABC radio, and joked about which tie to wear.
As part of the bond conditions, none of the defendants have been allowed to speak with each other, but Mr. Giuliani criticized the local officials for insisting President Trump go through the same process.
“If Trump was going to run away, a $200,000 bond is going to stop him?” Mr. Giuliani said, adding that the purpose of a mugshot is so people can recognize criminals who flee. “I hope you can see the whole thing’s being done for political purpose.”
Also booked and released on bond were: attorney John Eastman and bail bondsman Scott Hall who surrendered on Tuesday; attorneys Kenneth Chesebro, Ray Smith, Sidney Powell, and alternate elector Cathleen Latham, and former elections official Misty Hampton who surrendered on Wednesday; and former chief of staff Mark Meadows who surrendered Thursday.
Harrison Floyd, former vice president for the Black Conservative Federation, surrendered Thursday but had not pre-negotiated a bond agreement, and has not yet been released. He is the only defendant currently detained.
Former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark, attorney Robert Cheeley, Illinois paster Stephen Lee, former publicist for Kanye West Trevian Kutti, GOP strategist Michael Roman, and Georgia state senator Shawn Still have not yet surrendered.
