Former President Donald Trump may not attend his arraignment in Georgia next week following his indictment in the state earlier this month by District Attorney Fani Willis.
CBS News reports two sources have told the outlet Trump is considering waiving his Georgia arraignment scheduled for Sept. 6.
According to CNN, fellow indicted attorneys Sidney Powell and Trevian Kutti have waived their arraignment appearances. Ray Smith, also indicted in Fulton County, waived his arraignment appearance on Monday.
Trump has appeared for his previous three arraignments, two of which are federal indictments, in New York, Florida, and Washington D.C.
The former President has been indicted in Georgia for allegedly violating the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Eighteen others, including Rudy Giuliani, Powell, Kutti, and Smith, have been charged with the former President over the RICO Act and other alleged acts to conspire regarding the 2020 presidential election.
Former President Donald Trump may not show up to his arraignment in Georgia next week, according to two sources familiar with his plans. https://t.co/3WbJNvWPIZ
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 30, 2023
Last week, Georgia Republican Party Activist and former candidate for Georgia State House Brad Barnes filed paperwork with Fulton County Jail seeking the arrest of DA Willis.
Barnes alleges Willis violated her Oath by Public Officer, along with Conspiracy Against Rights, Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law, and engaged in unprofessional conduct as Public Officers and Employees of the state.
“It’s very clear that [Willis] is using her public office to prosecute a political grudge,” Barnes said, referencing the Fulton County district attorney’s move to charge Trump’s lawyers. “[It’s] a clear violation of the defendant’s, like Mr. Trump’s right to a redress of grievances under the First Amendment.”
Trump was booked and processed through Fulton County Jail last week. A mugshot of the former President was taken and later went viral after being posted online.
Following Trump’s booking at Fulton County Jail, the former President posted to X for the first time since Jan. 8, 2021, with a picture of his mugshot and a link to his website.
The photo featured the accompanying text, “ELECTION INTERFERENCE,” “NEVER SURRENDER!” and “DONALDJTRUMP.COM.”
The former President also began selling merchandise featuring his mugshot with an accompanying message, “NEVER SURRENDER!”
Merchandise for sale includes shirts, mugs, individual beverage coolers, and bumper stickers.
Following Trump’s X post, the former President shared on his social media platform, “I LOVE TRUTH SOCIAL. IT IS MY HOME!!!”
Trump has not made another post to X since Thursday night.
