Trump may not show up to arraignment in Georgia case
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US President Donald Trump may not attend his hearing in the Georgia case, though nothing is confirmed thus far.
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Former President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before departure from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Aug. 24, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia (AP)
Former US President Donald Trump could skip his court hearing scheduled for September 6 in Fulton County, Georgia, CBS reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Trump is reportedly considering skipping the arraignment, though he is yet to file a waiver with the court, CBS added.
This would reportedly be the first time Trump would be arraigned in absentia in the four criminal cases initiated against him on the basis of 13 alleged criminal offenses.
Trump, alongside 18 of his allies, is facing a racketeering indictment that lists 161 "overt acts" allegedly committed as part of a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election - 12 of which came from his own X posts.
Several of Trump's co-defendants waived their formal arraignments and pleaded not guilty, which would allow them to avoid attending the hearing, CBS clarified.
Trump and his co-defendants all surrendered at the Fulton County jail on Thursday, all but one of whom were free on bond agreements.
It is reported the co-defendants will be arraigned on September 6 after the former President's arraignment.
Trump is facing criminal charges in Georgia for his alleged role in bids to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.
Trump surrendered at the Fulton County Jail in connection to 13 charges over his alleged role in trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in the state.
In an event deemed iconic by many, Trump had his mugshot taken and, for the first time since 2021, posted on his X account, sharing his mugshot.
The mugshot was taken on August 24, 2023, and his caption on X says: "Election interference" and "Never Surrender!" with a link to Trump's official website.
Trump's former lawyer and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has already been arrested and released on a $150,000 bond bail in Fulton County, Georgia, for his alleged role in the same case as well.
Giuliani helped amplify Trump's false claims about widespread fraud in the 2020 election. His state law license was reportedly suspended under the pretext of undermining the integrity of the democratic process after propagating "demonstrably false and misleading" narratives.
Read next: Trump co-defendants want to move Georgia case to federal court
Before boarding a plane in Atlanta on Thursday, Trump claimed he did nothing wrong and believed he had the right to challenge a "dishonest" election.
"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 said, adding: "We have every right, every single right, to challenge an election that we think is dishonest."
"It's a very sad day for America, this should never happen," Trump continued. "I thought the election was a rigged election. A stolen election."
Even before Thursday, Trump took full energy into ranting against President Joe Biden and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
Trump accused Willis of what he claims was allowing the capital to become a "War zone" ridden with crime, adding this is all a 'witch hunt' under the coordination of the Biden administration.
This was not his first arrest, since he has been arrested in Washington, New York, and Miami, for charges related to the January 6 riots, falsifying business documents, and illegal possession of classified materials.
