Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, is expected to turn himself in to authorities in Georgia on Thursday. This follows charges that he illegally schemed to overturn the 2020 election in the state, a county jail booking that would yield a historic first: a mug shot of a former American president. This event is occurring amidst a sudden transformation of Trump’s legal team, and shortly after the presidential debate in Milwaukee featuring his leading contenders for the Republican nomination in 2024.
Trump’s surrender in Georgia is tied to the fourth criminal case against him since March, when he became the first former U.S. president to be indicted. Since then, he has also faced federal charges in Florida and Washington, and was indicted in Atlanta earlier this month along with 18 others, including his ex-chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. The charges fall under a racketeering statute usually associated with gang members and organized crime.
In response to the charges, Trump’s campaign has used the court appearances to solicit fundraising contributions from his supporters, framing the charges as a politically motivated effort to undercut his re-election chances.
On the day of Trump’s expected surrender, his legal team saw a change. Prominent Atlanta criminal defense attorney Steve Sadow replaced Drew Findling, who had represented Trump as recently as Monday when his bond terms were negotiated.
Despite the numerous charges against him, Trump has continued to deny any wrongdoing. His surrender will take place at a troubled Fulton County jail, though he’s not expected to spend much time there. His attorneys and prosecutors have already agreed to a $200,000 bond, plus conditions that include barring the former president from intimidating co-defendants, witnesses, or victims in the case.