Former President Trump revealed that Georgia officials insisted on taking his mugshot during processing at the Fulton County Jail on Thursday night. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, he expressed his discomfort with the experience, particularly since he believes he has done nothing wrong.
Trump, who is currently the leading Republican contender for the 2024 election, turned himself in at the Fulton County Jail following charges stemming from an investigation by District Attorney Fani Willis into his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.
During the interview, Trump explained that Georgia officials required him to have a mugshot taken. He said, “They insisted on a mugshot and I agreed to do that. This is the only time I’ve ever taken a mugshot.” He went on to emphasize how uncomfortable the process was, especially given his belief in his innocence.
Trump continued, addressing the larger context of his legal situation, stating, “This is all about election interference. It all comes through Washington and the DOJ and Crooked Joe Biden—nothing like this has ever happened in our country before.”
He also expressed his concern about the state of the United States, asserting that it is currently performing poorly and likening it to a Third World country.
After being charged, Trump’s bail was set at $200,000. He was swiftly processed and released on the same evening. The jail records detailed his physical characteristics, including height, weight, hair color, and eye color.
Fox News Digital learned that Trump’s formal arraignment, during which he is expected to plead not guilty, is scheduled for early next month.
The charges against Trump include one count of violating the Georgia RICO Act, three counts of criminal solicitation, six counts of criminal conspiracy, one count of filing false documents, and two counts of making false statements.
Trump is among more than a dozen individuals charged as a result of the Fulton County investigation. Notable figures like his former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and attorneys Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, Kenneth Chesebro, Jeff Clark, and John Eastman are among those charged.
Trump reiterated his belief in his innocence, stating, “We did nothing wrong at all. And we have every right, every single right, to challenge an election that we think is dishonest, that we think is very dishonest.”
In response to a motion from defendant Kenneth Chesebro, District Attorney Fani Willis requested a trial date of October 23 for Trump and all co-defendants. The judge approved this date only for Chesebro, the sole defendant who requested a speedy trial.
Trump has enlisted the services of Steven Sadow, a white-collar defense attorney based in Atlanta, for his representation in the Fulton County case. Sadow replaced Drew Findling, who was previously representing Trump. Sadow stated, “The President should never have been indicted. He is innocent of all the charges brought against him.” He expressed a desire for the case to be dismissed or for a fair-minded jury to find the President not guilty, condemning prosecutions driven by political motives.