Top NewsFormer Justice Department official Trump has been booked in the Georgia case

Former Justice Department official Trump has been booked in the Georgia case

Donald J. in Georgia. Former Justice Department official Jeffrey A. Clark was booked into the Fulton County Jail early Friday morning. The former president’s dramatic booking at the same Atlanta facility.

Mr. Trump was among the five defendants in jail after Mr. Clark is one.

The last two defendants in the case, Trevian C. Kutty and Steven C. Lee, surrendered Friday morning. Fulton County District Attorney, Fannie D. Willis set a deadline of noon for all 19 defendants to present themselves or face arrest.

All but one of the accused were released immediately after negotiating early bail deals with prosecutors. A defendant who failed to do so remained jailed Friday.

A former Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, Mr. Clark was released on $100,000 bond.

In addition to the state fraud charge that all 19 defendants face, Mr. Clark faces charges of criminal attempt to make false statements and writings based on a letter he allegedly sent to state officials in Georgia in December 2020. The Justice Department has identified “significant concerns” affecting the state’s election results.

Mr. Many defendants, including Clark, are seeking to move their cases to federal court, a relatively uncommon move known as expungement. Under federal law, state criminal cases can be transferred to federal court if federal officials are acting “under color” of their office.

Earlier this week, US District Court Judge Steve Jones, Mr. Clarke and another defendant, Mark Meadows, Mr. Trump’s former White House chief of staff — rejected efforts to avoid being booked into county jail by seeking their removal. cases. Hearings on their removal requests are scheduled for September.

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The indictment describes the last two defendants to surrender as part of a conspiracy to intimidate state election worker Ruby Freeman. A video that the Trump camp falsely claimed showed double counting of votes.

State officials quickly denied the allegations, pointing out that if election workers failed to read the ballots the first time, they would have to rescan the ballots. Even so, Ms. Freeman and another poll worker were demonized and threatened by Trump supporters.

Pastor from Illinois Mr. Prosecutors say Lee went to Atlanta on Dec. 15, 2020, knocked on Ms. Freeman’s door and tried to persuade her to go public with allegations of election fraud. Mr. The charges Lee faces include witness tampering. He was booked and released on a $75,000 bond, jail records show.

Outside the prison, Mr. Lee’s lawyer, David Shestokas, told reporters that his client had done nothing wrong. “People are always knocking on doors,” he said.

Mrs. Cut a Chicago Music promoter Prosecutors say he traveled to Atlanta on Jan. 3, 2021, and pressured Ruby Freeman on Mr. Trump’s behalf, suggesting to Ms. Freeman that she was in danger, the indictment said.

Ms. Kutty surrendered Friday morning and was booked and released on a $75,000 bond, jail records show.

A third defendant accused of harassing Ms. Freeman, Harrison Floyd, a political organizer from Rockville, Md., did not negotiate a bail deal with prosecutors and was jailed overnight.

It is unclear when he will appear for a bail hearing before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is handling the election interference case.

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According to the indictment, Mr. Mr. Floyd was told that his attempt had failed. After Lee called her, Ms. Cooty assigned Ms. Freeman to speak to her. Mr. Floyd joined Ms. Kutty and Ms. Freeman in a phone conversation on Jan. 5, the indictment said.

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