Donald Trump’s indictment: Former US president to surrender; authorities to implement ‘hard lockdown’ in the locality

Former President Donald Trump has announced via his Truth Social platform that he intends to surrender himself in Atlanta on August 24. This move is in connection with his indictment in Georgia, where he and 18 other defendants are facing 41 criminal charges linked to their alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.

"I'll be going to Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday to be ARRESTED," Trump posted.

The surrender date was reportedly negotiated between Trump's legal team and the Fulton County district attorney's office. CNN had initially reported Trump's plan to surrender at the Fulton County jail on August 24.

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The decision comes following the 98-page indictment revealed last week, which has labelled the charges against Trump as politically motivated and aimed at undermining his reelection campaign.

Upon surrender, there will be a “hard lockdown” of the area surrounding the Rice Street Jail, as confirmed by the local sheriff's office. The bond agreement signed between Trump's attorneys and Fulton Country District Attorney Fani Willis stipulates a $200,000 bond for the former president, along with instructions not to send any threatening messages on social media during the trial proceedings, Reuters reported.

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Trump, who is a prominent contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is scheduled to surrender just a day after the first Republican primary presidential debate. It is noteworthy that he has decided not to participate in this debate.

The indictment, issued on August 14, had set a deadline of Friday at noon ET for Trump and his co-defendants to surrender or face arrest. Prosecutors have proposed a trial commencement date of March 4, while Trump's legal team has pushed for a trial in 2026.

(With Reuters inputs)