Donald Trump has surrendered in Georgia on charges of plotting to overturn the state’ 2020 election results in an arrest that saw the first ever mugshot of a former US president.
Trump was required to pay a bail bond of $200 000 to be released from the Atlanta jail while he awaits trial.
Afterwards, he described the case as “a travesty of justice”.
It marks the fourth arrest in five months for him in a criminal case.
Trump says the cases are politically motivated because he is leading the Republican race to challenge President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in next year’ presidential election.
The former president left New Jersey on his private jet to be booked into the Fulton County Jail on Thursday afternoon.
He was inside the facility for around 20 minutes. Dozens of his supporters gathered outside.
Records posted on the jail’ website described Trump as a white male, 6ft 3in, and weighing 215lbs (97kg), with blond or strawberry hair and blue eyes. His inmate number was P01135809.
Before departing to return to New Jersey he told reporters at the airport that he was entitled to challenge an election result.
“I thought the election was a rigged election, a stolen election,” said Mr Trump, who often makes unfounded claims of widespread ballot fraud in 2020. “And I should have every right to do that.
“As you know, you have many people that you’ve been watching over the years do the same thing, whether it’ Hillary Clinton or [former Georgia gubernatorial candidate] Stacey Abrams, or many others.”
Trump was charged last week alongside 18 co-defendants with meddling in Georgia’ election results following his loss to Biden by fewer than 12 000 votes in that state.
The former president was heard in a phone call pressuring Georgia’ top election official to “find 11 780 votes” during the ballot count.
Among the 13 charges Trump faces are racketeering, soliciting a public official to violate his oath of office, conspiracy to impersonate a public officer, conspiracy to commit forgery and making false statements.
He denies all the counts against him.
Half of his co-accused have already been booked at Fulton County Jail in recent days ahead of Friday’ deadline. They include former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. (BBC)