Trump could have mugshot taken if indicted in Georgia: ‘We’ll be ready’
This is not the presidential portrait he wanted.
A sheriff in Georgia said former President Donald Trump will likely have his mug shot taken if he is hit with a fourth indictment in that state.
Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat anticipates authorities will adhere to “normal practices” if Trump receives an indictment for attempting to challenge the 2020 election results in the Peach State.
“Unless somebody tells me differently, we are following our normal practices, and so it doesn’t matter your status,” Labat told reporters during a press conference Tuesday. “We’ll have a mug shot ready for you.”
If the 77-year-old Trump does have his mug shot taken, that image will be subject to open records requests, Labat noted.
Trump’s post-presidency legal troubles have failed to render a mug shot thus far. He managed to skate through his 34-count Manhattan arraignment in April and his 37-count (now 40-count) federal indictment in June without a publicly available mugshot.
Notably, he was fingerprinted during the Manhattan arraignment.
Labat also underscored that his office is prepared for the fallout that might ensue if a fourth indictment does come down.
“If an indictment came today, we would be ready,” Labat stressed.
The sheriff revealed that he has received threats concerning the case, but said his department has run them “to the ground” and plans to continue to do so.
“Our goal is to protect not just the DA — the judges and everybody that has received those threats,” he said. “We’ve done a really good job of running those to ground. And again, as those individuals continue to make threats, go after those bad actors and hold them accountable.”
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office has been probing efforts by Trump and his associates to challenge the 2020 election in the Peach State.
This was sparked by Trump’s January 2021 call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in which he emphasized the need to “find, uh, 11,780 votes” — enough needed to overturn his Peach State loss.
A special grand jury impaneled to assist in the inquiry wrapped up its work in May. Trump’s legal team recently lost a bid to squelch the probe.
Willis suggested that potential charges are forthcoming.
“The work is accomplished. We’ve been working for 2.5 years. We’re ready to go,” Willis teased during a recent interview.
On Tuesday Trump was slapped with a four-count indictment from special counsel Jack Smith over efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
This includes charges for conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.
Trump, who has adamantly denied wrongdoing, is facing decades behind bars if convicted of all charges.
The 77-year-old former president has been summoned for arraignment at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington, DC, Thursday around noon.
Willis is rumored to be eyeing formal charges within the coming weeks.
Trump is the first current or former US president to be criminally indicted, though Ulysses S. Grant was once arrested for speeding in his horse and buggy.
