Trump’s Mug Shot Released After Booking at Atlanta Jail on Election Charges
Donald Trump’s mug shot was unveiled on Thursday evening following his booking at an Atlanta jail on over a dozen felony charges, constituting a comprehensive criminal case stemming from his endeavors as the former U.S. president to overturn his 2020 election defeat in Georgia.
The mug shot displayed a stern-faced Trump, identified as inmate no. P01135809 according to Fulton County Jail records. This image marked another extraordinary occurrence for Trump, as he had previously evaded having his photograph taken during his appearances in his other three criminal cases.
He swiftly seized the opportunity to capitalize on the situation, sharing the mug shot on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as on his self-owned social media platform, Truth Social. His campaign website featured the mug shot accompanied by a message from Trump defending his actions and soliciting donations.
This X post seemed to be Trump’s first on the platform since his account was banned after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. X owner Elon Musk reinstated Trump’s account late last year.
Trump’s stint at the jail was brief, lasting around 20 minutes before he returned to his golf club in New Jersey. Before boarding his private plane at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport, he reiterated his belief that the prosecution, along with the other charges he faces, is driven by political motives.
“What’s happening here is an injustice,” he asserted to reporters. “I committed no wrongdoing, and everyone knows it.”
At 77 years old, Trump has ventured into uncharted territory as the first former U.S. president to confront criminal charges, all while embarking on another presidential campaign for the upcoming year.
Rather than diminishing his standing in the race for the Republican Party nomination, the four cases lodged against him have only fortified his position. He holds a commanding lead in polling for the Republican nomination, positioning him to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in the November 2024 election.
A throng of supporters, brandishing Trump banners and American flags, eagerly awaited Trump’s arrival at the jail. Among these backers was Georgia U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a staunch congressional ally of the former president.
Lyle Rayworth, a 49-year-old aviation industry professional from the Atlanta area, had been waiting outside the jail for 10 hours since early Thursday.
“Yeah, I’m hoping he sees me waving the flags, showing support,” Rayworth said as he awaited Trump’s arrival. “He needs us.”
The mug shot is destined to circulate widely among both Trump’s adversaries and supporters.
“We want to put it on a T-shirt. It will go worldwide. It will be a more popular image than the Mona Lisa,” said Laura Loomer, a 30-year-old former Republican congressional candidate, mingling with other Trump supporters outside the jail on Thursday morning.
Judge Scott McAfee set a trial date of October 23 for one of Trump’s 18 co-defendants, attorney Kenneth Chesebro, in response to Chesebro’s request for a speedy trial. However, this schedule has not yet been applied to Trump or the other defendants.
Eleven of Trump’s co-defendants have already been processed, according to authorities. Some, like Rudolph Giuliani, the former Mayor of New York, displayed stern expressions in their mug shots, while others, such as lawyer Jenna Ellis, smiled for the camera.
All 19 defendants had a Friday deadline to surrender. Mark Meadows, who served as Trump’s White House Chief of Staff, was processed at the jail on Thursday, according to court records.
The jail is known for its harsh conditions, inspiring rap songs and prompting a U.S. Justice Department investigation.
Trump faces 13 felony charges in the Georgia case, including racketeering, typically applied in cases targeting organized crime. These charges stem from his efforts to pressure state officials to reverse his election loss and establish an unauthorized slate of electors to undermine the formal congressional certification of Biden’s victory in 2020.
TRIAL DATE CONFLICT
While Willis initially proposed a trial date of March 4, she advanced it for Chesebro after his request for an October start. Trump’s legal team has yet to propose a date but is expected to advocate for a much later commencement. On Thursday, his newly appointed Atlanta lawyer, Steven Sadow, requested a separate trial for Trump apart from Chesebro’s.
In the three other cases, Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing. For the Georgia case, Willis requested that arraignments commence the week of September 5, although defendants in Georgia are allowed to waive those appearances and plead not guilty via court filing.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg initiated the first case, accusing Trump of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to a porn star who claimed to have had a sexual encounter with him years ago.
Trump also faces two sets of federal charges brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith – one case in Washington involving election interference, and one in Miami involving classified documents he retained after leaving office in 2021. In total, he faces 91 criminal counts.
Trump agreed to post a $200,000 bond and accepted bail conditions that would prohibit him from threatening witnesses or co-defendants in the Georgia case.
Republicans, who control the U.S. House of Representatives, announced on Thursday that they would investigate whether Willis improperly coordinated with federal prosecutors. They had previously initiated an investigation into Bragg, accusing him of a “campaign of intimidation.”
On Wednesday, Trump’s leading rivals in the race for the Republican presidential nomination convened in Milwaukee for their first debate. Trump skipped the event, opting instead for a pre-recorded interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, an attempt to divert viewers.
“I’ve been indicted four times – all trivial nonsense,” Trump told Carlson.
