NEW YORK: Former US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to surrender on Thursday to a court in the state of Georgia, where he faces charges of election interference. The case revolves around allegations of attempting to subvert the 2020 election results through meddling in Georgia’s electoral process.
A judge overseeing the case has set bail at $200,000 (£157,000), and Mr. Trump will be allowed to remain free pending trial on the condition that he does not intimidate witnesses or obstruct the administration of justice.
Denying the 13 charges, including racketeering and false statements, Trump has been at the center of a legal battle that has gripped the nation. He and 18 others implicated in the case were originally granted until noon on Friday to appear at Fulton County Jail for processing. The former president’s decision to surrender came after a court filing revealed the terms of his bond agreement, prohibiting actions that could intimidate co-defendants or witnesses, including social media posts.
Donald Trump Levels Accusations Against Joe Biden
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is overseeing the case, and lawyers representing Trump signed the agreement. However, the former president took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his perspective: “Can you believe it? I’ll be going to Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday to be ARRESTED by a Radical Left District Attorney, Fani Willis.” Trump also accused the investigation of being orchestrated in coordination with the Department of Justice under President Joe Biden.
Willis has requested the judge schedule arraignments for September 5, where formal charges will be read and a plea will be entered. She has also proposed a trial start date in March, potentially open to public viewing. If Trump does surrender as planned, heightened security measures have been put in place around the court.
The charges against Trump stem from a phone call where he was heard pressuring Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find 11,780 votes” during the ballot count after his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Facing these charges, Trump remains defiant, labeling them as politically motivated.
As he navigates his legal battles, Trump is simultaneously leading the Republican race for the 2024 presidential nomination. He has recently opted out of the first televised Republican debate and instead recorded an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. State-by-state primaries for the Republican nomination are set to commence on January 15, 2024.
