Former President of the US, Donald Trump has announced his intention to surrender himself to authorities in the state of Georgia on Thursday to face charges related to election interference. A judge in Atlanta overseeing the case has set bail at $200,000, allowing Trump to remain free until trial under the condition that he does not attempt to threaten or intimidate witnesses. Trump has vehemently denied the 13 charges, including racketeering and false statements, lodged against him.
“The defendant shall perform no act to intimidate any person known to him or her to be a co-defendant or witness in this case or to otherwise obstruct the administration of justice,” stated the court filing posted on Monday. This directive also extends to any posts on social media or reposts of posts made by others on social media. The agreement was signed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, overseeing the case, and lawyers representing Mr. Trump.
On the same day, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his views on the matter, stating, “Can you believe it? I’ll be going to Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday to be ARRESTED by a Radical Left District Attorney, Fani Willis.” He further insinuated that the charges were politically motivated and orchestrated in coordination with the Department of Justice under President Joe Biden.
Trump’s remarks also included a sarcastic comment about the conditions of his bail, suggesting that the district attorney must have anticipated him attempting to flee the country. He humorously speculated about the possibility of flying commercially, assuming that nobody would recognize him.
Fani Willis has requested the judge to schedule arraignments for September 5th, during which the defendant is formally charged and enters a guilty or not guilty plea. She has also proposed that the trial commence in March.
Reports suggest that lawyers representing Trump were present at the Fulton County court in Atlanta on Monday to meet with investigators and negotiate the terms of the bail bond.
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office has announced plans for a “hard lockdown” of the surrounding county jail area upon Trump’s anticipated surrender. Barricades have already been erected outside the court in preparation for the event, and they are expected to remain in place until Saturday. All 19 accused individuals, including Trump, have until noon local time on Friday to turn themselves in for processing.
Trump, who faces three other criminal cases, has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has characterized the charges against him as politically motivated. He is currently leading the race among Republican candidates for the 2024 presidential election, challenging the Democratic candidate, likely to be President Joe Biden. Trump has already announced his intention to skip the first televised Republican debate and instead participate in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. State-by-state primaries, where Republican voters will choose their party’s nominee, are set to commence on January 15, 2024.
