Former US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to turn himself in on Thursday to a court in the state of Georgia, where he faces charges of election interference. A judge in Atlanta overseeing the case has set bail at $200,000 (£157,000). The terms of the agreement stipulate that Trump can remain free until trial as long as he refrains from attempting to intimidate witnesses or obstruct justice.
Trump is facing 13 charges, including racketeering and false statements, which he vehemently denies. A court filing posted on Monday includes a provision that forbids Trump from taking any actions to intimidate co-defendants or witnesses, whether through social media posts or reposts.
The agreement was signed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is leading the case, as well as Trump’s lawyers. In response to the charges, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, expressing disbelief at the impending arrest and accusing the district attorney of conducting a “WITCH HUNT” in coordination with the Department of Justice under President Joe Biden.
Trump also commented on the bail conditions, sarcastically speculating about his airplane and suggesting that the strict conditions indicate the district attorney’s concerns about his potential flight risk.
The district attorney, Fani Willis, has requested that arraignments take place on September 5, during which a formal plea will be entered, and she has proposed that the trial commence in March.
As Trump prepares to surrender, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office has announced a “hard lockdown” in the surrounding county jail area. Barricades have been set up outside the court in anticipation of Trump’s surrender.
Last week, Trump was charged along with co-defendants for attempting to interfere with the Georgia election results after his loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race. The charges are related to a phone call in which Trump pressured Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State to “find 11,780 votes.”
Despite the charges, Trump is currently leading the Republican race for the 2024 presidential nomination, although he has confirmed he will not participate in the first televised debate. Trump’s legal challenges continue as he faces additional criminal cases, maintaining his denial of any wrongdoing and attributing the charges to political motives.
