Former U.S. President Donald Trump, along with 18 other individuals, has been indicted by a grand jury in Georgia for alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. These charges stem from a variety of alleged actions, including violation of the state’s RICO act, conspiracy to commit forgery, filing false documents, and solicitation of violation of oath by a public office.
The Fulton County sheriff stated that Trump would be treated like any other inmate during the booking process. Sheriff Patrick Labatt announced on CNN, “If you’re indicted, then we’re going to treat you as though you’re indicted here locally, and so we’ll consider you to do fingerprints, mugshots, etc.”
Charles Rambo, a retired lieutenant of the sheriff’s office, elaborated on the process: “Once inside they would be pat down, led to the booking office in the rear. From there, they probably have to have ties and shoe strings and all those types of things taken. Then, from there the persons would be fingerprinted, given a booking photo.”
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However, there is skepticism regarding the length of Trump’s stay at the facility. Former Georgia prosecutor Chris Timmons observed, “I don’t expect Trump to spend hours in this jail because the longer he is, it’s a pain. It’s going to be a hassle for the entire sheriff’s department or at least those who are at the jail when the president’s there. It’s going to be a circus.”
Beyond this specific case, there are concerns surrounding the conditions at Fulton County Jail. Recently, the Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated a civil rights investigation into the jail following the death of an inmate, LaShawn Thompson. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated, “People in prisons and jails are entitled to basic protections of their civil rights… We launched this investigation into the Fulton County Jail based on serious allegations of unsafe, unsanitary living conditions at the jail, excessive force and violence within the jail…”
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U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan expressed, “The recent allegations of filthy housing teeming with insects, rampant violence resulting in death and injuries, and officers using excessive force are cause for grave concern and warrant a thorough investigation.”
Thompson’s tragic case became emblematic of the jail’s problematic conditions. Arrested for a simple misdemeanor, Thompson was placed in the psychiatric wing due to his mental state. He was later found dead in a cell overrun by insects and bed bugs. Michael D. Harper, his family’s lawyer, declared, “Mr. Thompson was found dead in a filthy jail cell after being eaten alive by insects and bed bugs… We’re asking for a criminal investigation into the matter and (major) changes at the jail.”
READ: Trump Ally Claims Immunity from Georgia Indictment, Seeks Transfer to Federal Court
Some of Trump’s co-defendants have already begun the surrender process. Two, namely lawyer John Eastman and bail bondsman Scott Hall, spent about an hour in the facility before their release. Meanwhile, Trump has agreed to a $200,000 bond and is anticipated to surrender at the jail on Thursday.
