It’s the fourth time, almost business as usual. The 45th President of the United States of America, who is about to become the 47th President, knows the procedure. Arrival by private plane, in the motorcade guarded by the Secret Service, we go to the scene, into the building, paperwork, then in front of the coroner, possibly endure a reading of the indictment, plead “not guilty”, done.
But in the US state of Georgia, where Trump had to face the authorities in the Atlanta district jail, one little thing was new: that the 77-year-old – unlike the three previous charges – did not appear in court but in a prison at least visually a new quality. The indictment in Georgia involves allegations of vote rigging. At the end of 2020/beginning of 2021, Trump tried to use criminal means to turn the presidential election in the state in his favor.
Security precautions in front of the prison in Atlanta were tightened, Trump supporters gathered in front of the building. And Trump himself wrote on the Truth Social platform he founded in advance that he would “proudly” be arrested. An overview of the events surrounding Trump’s court date:
How did the appointment in Georgia go?
Trump had to undergo various formalities in prison, which are basically the same for every citizen. His personal details were taken, fingerprints were taken, and a police photo, a so-called Mug shotwas announced.
At Trump’s three previous court appearances in New York, Miami and Washington DC, the authorities had refrained from taking police photos of him – possibly with the foreboding that Trump supporters could use the photos on social networks for their own purposes. This time there is Mug shot, the sheriff’s office made the recording public shortly thereafter. And Trump? Immediately used the photo for his return to the Twitter successor platform X – more than two and a half years after his last post. His account was suspended in January 2021, three days after the Capitol storm, because of the risk of “further inciting violence”; until Twitter buyer Elon Musk had it unlocked again in November 2022.
Back to prison: This stay was short-lived for Trump. After only 20 minutes, he had the appointment behind him and was allowed to leave the place again – but under certain conditions. Bail was set for the first time in one of Trump’s trials, and it’s $200,000. He deposited this sum. The Republican has also pledged not to take a stand against witnesses or his co-defendants on social media platforms. The terms were negotiated in advance by Trump’s lawyers. Interesting: Trump wants to replace one of these lawyers, as several US media reported a few hours before the prison date.
What is Trump accused of in Georgia?
Trump is not accused alone, but with 18 other suspects, including his former attorney Rudy Giuliani. The allegation: The group tried to influence the outcome of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Trump narrowly lost the state. A criminal offense from the so-called Rico law, which was originally enacted to take action against extortion by the mafia, is particularly delicate in the indictment.
Prosecutors want to prove Trump was part of a criminal organization. If he is convicted on this point, he faces a long prison sentence. He is also accused of urging public officials to violate their oath of office. Trump is said to have asked Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s interior minister, to “find” the necessary votes for him.
What other legal problems does he have?
With so many cases pending against Trump, it’s hard to keep track. There are three charges in the state of New York alone. It’s about Hush money payments to a porn star, irregularities in Trump’s corporate empire and the allegation that Trump sexually assaulted a woman. In a way, they are the less serious cases – not in terms of the possible sentence, but in terms of the potential danger for Trump’s career.
In addition to the indictment in Georgia, two complexes at the federal level are particularly dangerous for Trump. For one thing, Trump is charged with the events of January 6, 2021. At that time, a violent mob, incited by Trump, stormed the Capitol in Washington. The most serious allegation in the 45-page indictment: conspiracy against the United States. On the other hand, Trump is accused of not handing over highly sensitive secret documents to the national archives as required after his term in office, but hoarding them in his residence in Florida.
In both cases, Special Counsel Jack Smith is investigating, determined to advance the indictments regardless of Trump’s political ambitions. Several trials could begin in 2024, in the middle of the presidential election campaign.
What about his application as a presidential candidate?
Trump wants to be president again, whatever the cost. A new term in the Oval Office would have the pleasant side effect for him that he could pardon himself in those processes that are running at the federal level. But not in the processes at the state level.
In all polls, Trump leads the nine Republican presidential candidates by a wide margin. In the first internal party TV debate, none of his competitors dared to seriously criticize Trump. He himself had canceled participation shortly before. The ex-president feels very certain that a candidacy can hardly be taken away from him.
Even if, unlikely, Trump is convicted in a court hearing before the election, that will not prevent his candidacy or possible election. The US Constitution has no way of barring a criminal candidate from political office in the first place.