Former US President Donald Trump turned himself, and was booked shortly before 8 p.m. ET in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday night, following a 13-count indictment stemming from his alleged actions to contest the 2020 presidential election. The 77-year-old was listed as 6’3’’ 215 pounds with "blonde or strawberry" hair and blue eyes.
The court had set Trump’s bail at $200,000. He was quickly processed and released. His mugshot which is the first ever taken by a former U.S. president, was hailed by supporters as iconic; and it went viral after he posted it on X with caption "ELECTION INTERFERENCE NEVER SURRENDER! DONALDJTRUMP.COM." This is his first post since he was banned from the platform in January 2021.
Others charged along with Trump including his lawyers Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, also had their mugshots released.
Following his processing from the Fulton County Jail, Trump told reporters it is "a very sad day for America."
"This should not have ever happened. If you challenge an election -- you should be able to challenge an election," Trump said. "I thought the election was a rigged election, a stolen election, I should have every right to do that. As you know you have many people that you’ve been watching over the years do the same thing -- whether it is Hillary Clinton, or Stacey Abrams many others."
He added: "When you have that great freedom to challenge -- you have to be able to -- otherwise, you’re going to have very dishonest elections."
The former president called the Georgia case "a travesty of justice."
"We did nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong. And everybody knows that," he said, adding that he has "never had such support."
Trump said "the other ones," referring to Democrats, are participating in "election interference and trying to interfere with an election."
"Never been anything like it in our country before," he said. "This is their way of campaigning."
Trump said the Fulton County case is just "one instance, but you have three other instances." He was referring to the three other criminal indictments he faces-- one from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and two from Special Counsel Jack Smith.
"It is election interference," he said. "We did nothing wrong at all. And we have every right every single right to challenge an election that we think is dishonest that we think is very dishonest."
Fulton County far-left District Attorney Fani Willis on Thursday, asked the Fulton County court to set a trial date for Trump and all 18 co-defendants in the case for October 23. The move was in response to a motion for a speedy trial from defendant Kenneth Chesebro.
The judge approved the October 23 trial date, but only for Chesebro, as he was the only defendant to request a speedy trial.
Trump's booking Thursday, triggered a barrage of criticism, as many on social media slammed Willis and other far-left prosecutors for their aggressive and hyper-partisan persecution of the former president.
Political experts however pointed out the viral mugshot is likely to make Trump a martyr and galvanize his supporters ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
WATCH Trump's remarks following his booking at the Fulton County jail.