(Headline USA) Former President Donald Trump and the 18 other defendants charged in a Fulton County sham RICO indictment will be booked in the county’s jail after surrendering to authorities, the sheriff’s office announced Tuesday.
“In Fulton County, GA, the booking process and arraignment/appearance process in criminal cases are two separate things. In this case, some arraignments/appearances may be virtual as dictated by the presiding judge,” Fulton County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Natalie Ammons said in a statement.
“At this point, based on guidance received from the District Attorney’s office and presiding judge, it is expected that all 19 defendants named in the indictment will be booked at the Rice Street Jail.”
Fulton County’s Soros-funded District Attorney Fani Willis unveiled dozens of charges against 19 defendants, including Trump, this week over their alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Willis announced during a press conference on Monday that the defendants have less than two weeks to turn themselves in to authorities.
“I am giving the defendants the opportunity to voluntarily surrender no later than noon on Friday the 25th day of August 2023,” Willis said, adding that she hopes to take the case to trial “within the next six months.”
Ammons said the defendants, which also include former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, don’t need to wait until the 25th and “can turn themselves in at any time.”
“The jail is open 24/7. Also, due to the unprecedented nature of this case, some circumstances may change with little or no warning.” Ammons said.
Fulton County officials made it clear earlier this month that Trump would be subjected to “normal practices” if he were indicted, including having his mugshot taken.
“Unless somebody tells me differently, we are following our normal practices, and so it doesn’t matter your status,” Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat said.
Trump has blasted the charges, accusing Willis of interfering with the 2024 presidential election.
“Like Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, Deranged Jack Smith, and New York AG Letitia James, Fulton County, GA’s radical Democrat District Attorney Fani Willis is a rabid partisan who is campaigning and fundraising on a platform of prosecuting President Trump through these bogus indictments,” the Trump campaign said in a statement.
“Ripping a page from Crooked Joe Biden’s playbook, Willis has strategically stalled her investigation to try and maximally interfere with the 2024 presidential race and damage the dominant Trump campaign. All of these corrupt Democrat attempts will fail.”
