Several individuals charged with attempting to overturn the outcome of Georgia’s 2020 election and keep former President Donald Trump in power have turned themselves in to authorities in Fulton County. The deadline for surrendering voluntarily was Friday. At least six of the 19 defendants facing charges have appeared at the Fulton County jail and have been released on bond. Trump himself has agreed to turn himself in on Thursday and has agreed to a $200,000 bond. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis issued a 41-count indictment accusing Trump and others of participating in a “criminal enterprise” aimed at reversing the election results.
Earlier this week, Scott Hall, John Eastman, Cathy Latham, David Shafer, Kenneth Chesebro, and Ray Smith III turned themselves in. Hall faces seven counts, while Eastman faces nine and Latham faces 11. Shafer, Chesebro, and Smith face eight, seven, and 12 counts, respectively. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani also intends to turn himself in on Wednesday. So far, none of the defendants have entered pleas.
The indictment alleges that Eastman played a significant role in the alleged plot to send a fake slate of electors to Congress, with the aim of disrupting and delaying the joint session to alter the outcome of the election. The indictment also claims that Eastman and Trump argued in an Oval Office meeting on January 4, 2021, that Vice President Mike Pence could reject electoral votes or delay the counting on January 6 to allow state legislatures to appoint electors in favor of Trump. In addition, two defendants, Jeffrey Clark and Shafer, are seeking to have their cases moved to federal court in Atlanta.