Donald Trump becomes first former US president to have mugshot taken after surrendering to face criminal charges
25 August 2023, 02:08 | Updated: 25 August 2023, 05:30
Donald Trump's mugshot has been released after he turned himself in at a jail in Georgia to face charges of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state.
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Trump was fingerprinted and had his mugshot taken at Fulton County jail in Atlanta, as is standard procedure.
He is the first former US president to have his mugshot taken.
Trump will return at a later date to enter a plea after his bail was set at $200,000.
Speaking to the media after he was released from Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, the former US President said: "I did nothing wrong - we did nothing wrong."
"This is a very sad day for America," Mr Trump said before labelling the criminal charges "election interference".
"When you have that great freedom to challenge, you have to be able to otherwise you get dishonest elections," he said.
"What has taken place here is a travesty of justice. We did nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong and everybody knows that I've never had such support," he added.
"We have every right, every single right to challenge an election that we think is dishonest."
Trump is believed to have spent around 25 minutes inside Fulton County jail.
Supporters of Trump were gathered outside the Atlanta jail for several hours, with many holding placards suggesting the charges as a "witch hunt".
Mark Meadows, Trump's former chief of staff and one of 18 co-defendants in this case, surrendered to Fulton County authorities to be booked on charges earlier on Thursday.
He has now been released on bail.
Just hours after handing himself in, Trump tweeted on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
The former US president was banned from Twitter before Elon Musk lifted it last year - this marks his first return to the social media platform since 2021.
He shared an image of his mug shot, as he shared a link to his website and claimed in text underneath “Election interference. Never surrender!”
Trump has denied all 13 charges presented to him, including racketeering and making false statements. They are "politically motivated", the former president has said.
It is the fourth criminal case Trump faces as he prepares to run again for election next year.
A court filing shows that the prosecution has asked for the date 23 October 2023 for the trial to start.
Read More: Trump expected to turn himself in at Georgia jail on 2020 US election charges
"I'll be going to Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday to be ARRESTED by a Radical Left District Attorney, Fani Willis," Trump told his followers earlier this week.
"She campaigned, and is continuing to campaign, and raise money on, this WITCH HUNT," Trump added.
"This is in strict co-ordination with crooked Joe Biden's DOJ [Department of Justice]."
The former New York City mayor, celebrated as "America's mayor" for his leadership after 9/11, acted on behalf of the Republican ex-President as he battled to get Georgia and other hotly contested states to declare for Mr Trump.
Mr Giuliani, 79, is charged along with Mr Trump and 17 other people under Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act.
His bail has been set at $150,000 (£118,000), second only to Mr Trump's $200,000 (£157,000). Prison records showed he was booked on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Giuliani is accused of spearheading Mr Trump's efforts to make local politicians in Georgia and other closely contested states to the Republican president.
Mr Giuliani is charged with making false statements and soliciting false testimony, conspiring to create phony paperwork and asking state lawmakers to violate their oath of office to appoint an alternate slate of pro-Trump electors.
Outside the Fulton County jail on Wednesday, Mr Giuliani laughed when asked if he regretted allying himself with Mr Trump.
"I am very, very honoured to be involved in this case because this case is a fight for our way of life," he told reporters.
