Historic moment, the first-ever mug shot of a U.S. president has been taken, marking a new chapter in Donald Trump’s legal saga. Despite three prior arraignments this year, Thursday’s proceedings in Fulton County, Georgia, saw the long-awaited capture of Trump’s image following charges related to his attempts to alter the 2020 presidential election results.
After the arraignment at Fulton County jail, notorious for its harsh conditions, CNN reported on Trump’s processing. Georgia officials, emphasizing equal treatment, confirmed on Aug. 1 that Trump would undergo standard booking procedures, including fingerprinting and mug shot documentation.
“Unless somebody tells me differently, we are following our normal practices, and so it doesn’t matter your status, we’ll have a mug shot ready for you,” said Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat, according to WSB-TV.
This momentous mug shot, a first for any U.S. president, highlights Trump’s legal woes, despite three prior indictments this year alone, as Axios reports. The initial indictment in March, related to hush-money payments, was followed by a federal charge in June for mishandling classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. On Aug. 1, a third federal indictment focused on Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Aug. 14 brought a fourth indictment, alongside 18 defendants, concerning efforts to manipulate the 2020 election results in Georgia.
With a total of 91 criminal charges, Trump’s trials are slated to commence next year. The former president, also eyeing a 2024 GOP presidential bid, could face significant prison time if found guilty.
The Georgia trial, set to start on March 4, 2024, just before primary elections in multiple states, may become the first to be televised live. State law allows camera coverage with the judge’s approval, opening the possibility of public access to this unprecedented legal spectacle, as reported by NBC News.
