LI Network
Published on: 27 August 2023 at 11:21 IST
In a historic turn of events, former US President Donald Trump has been arrested and booked on charges related to conspiring with 18 other defendants to overturn the 2020 presidential election result.
The 77-year-old Trump spent a brief 20 minutes within the confines of Atlanta’s Fulton County Jail, where an unsmiling mug shot was taken – marking a unique first in the history of any serving or former US president.
The mug shot, captured during the booking process, shows an unyielding Donald Trump, inmate number P01135809 according to Fulton County Jail records, glaring at the camera with an air of defiance.
This momentous occurrence contrasts with his previous encounters with the law, where he was not required to submit to such photographs during his three other criminal cases.
Accused of orchestrating efforts to reverse the outcome of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, Trump’s mug shot release adds yet another chapter to his storied legacy.
The image, which portrays a resolute Trump, resonates with his fervent social media presence even after being banned from platforms like Twitter, where he boasted over 88 million followers.
Trump’s tweet on the matter, shared shortly after his arrest, featured his mug shot along with the statement: “ELECTION INTERFERENCE! NEVER SURRENDER!” Twitter had permanently suspended Trump’s account in January 2021, citing concerns of incitement to violence following the storming of the US Capitol.
Emerging from the Fulton County Jail after a succinct 20-minute stay, Trump boarded a private plane bound for his New Jersey golf club. Maintaining his stance, he reiterated that the charges he faces, including 13 felony counts such as racketeering, were politically motivated.
The accusations against Trump center around allegations of pressuring state officials to overturn his election loss and establishing an alternative slate of electors to undermine the formal congressional certification of President Biden’s victory.
In the released photograph from the sheriff’s office, Trump’s stern expression is captured as he wears a dark blue suit, white shirt, and red tie.
Addressing reporters post-arrest, Trump, a prominent contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, expressed his viewpoint on the situation: “What has taken place here is a travesty of justice. I did nothing wrong.” His mug shot, emblematic of the situation, was shared on his newly-established social media platform, Truth Social, accompanied by the caption “Election Interference” and a link to his campaign website.
Further details from the Fulton County Jail include Trump’s listed height of six feet three inches (1.9 meters), weight at 215 pounds (97 kilograms), and hair color described as “Blond or Strawberry.”
Having faced criminal charges on four separate occasions since April, Trump’s legal entanglements are setting the stage for an extraordinary year of legal drama as he navigates court appearances alongside a potential White House campaign.
Remarkably, Trump’s arrest occurred a day after he declined participation in a televised debate among rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, most of whom are trailing significantly behind him in the polls.