Within moments of the first mug shot of a U.S. president being released to the public, the image of a scowling Donald Trump quickly became something of a political Rorschach test.
Trump’s opponents see in the portrait a vindictive egomaniac. His supporters see a battle-tested warrior ready to fight a corrupt justice system.
Trump’s campaign sees cash signs.
Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office
The former president’s political action committee is offering a “Never Surrender” T-shirt, complete with a Trump mug, to those who donate at least $47.
Some Trump supporters anticipate the mug shot will be worth more than money. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones predicted Trump’s prosecution will rally more conservatives to his cause. Jones, who Trump backed in the 2022 elections, labeled the Fulton County district attorney’s case “an absolute disgrace.”
“Fani Willis and radical Democrats are weaponizing the judicial system for their own political gain — and it’s time for us to fight back and WIN in 2024,” he wrote.
Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC
Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Jackson, called for the ousting of Willis.
“Georgia’s new Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission must act to remove Willis when our new state law to hold rogue district attorneys accountable takes effect,” he wrote on X, the site formerly known as Twitter. “Until then, rest assured, I will keep fighting to impeach Joe Biden, Merrick Garland, and Christopher Wray for their political weaponization of the federal justice system and cut as much funding from the corrupt DOJ as possible.”
***
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
GREENE’S MUG SHOT. Former President Donald Trump’s mug shot wasn’t the only one of a high-profile elected official circulating on social media on Thursday night.
Trump’s biggest defender, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, posted a fake mug shot of herself on X with the message: “I stand with President Trump against the commie DA Fani Willis who is nothing more than a political hitman tasked with taking out Biden’s top political opponent. Persecution, not prosecution.”
The Republican from Rome has said she would back Trump even if the former president were convicted in any of his four pending criminal trials. Earlier this month, Greene indicated she would consider joining Trump on the GOP election ticket as vice president should he win the 2024 presidential nomination.
***
Credit: Michael Blackshire/AJC
Credit: Michael Blackshire/AJC
HOUSE INVESTIGATION. As expected, the Republican-led U.S. House Judiciary Committee has launched a probe of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican and the committee chairman, sent a letter to Willis demanding records and documents related to any communication with federal officials regarding her election interference investigation of former President Donald Trump and his allies. Jordan wants to know if Willis coordinated with the U.S. Department of Justice or the White House in building the case.
The District Attorney’s office declined comment on Jordan’s letter. The congressman gave Willis a Sept. 7 deadline to provide all requested information.
***
Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC
Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC
LISTEN UP: We unpack the extraordinary events of the day of surrender for former President Donald Trump in the Friday edition of the Politically Georgia podcast.
We also preview what’s next for a congressional investigation into Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office, and look ahead to the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington.
Listen at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.
***
Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office
KEEP UP. Former President Donald Trump and many of the 18 others indicted in the Georgia election interference case have surrendered to Fulton County authorities.
With all the moving parts, we’ll keep you updated every morning with the latest developments. Our AJC colleagues filed these stories Thursday:
***
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
DESANTIS DISCIPLES. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis continued to pick up presidential endorsements in Georgia following Wednesday’s GOP primary debate. About two dozen state lawmakers are now backing his bid, a list that includes state Rep. Jodi Lott of Evans. DeSantis now boasts support from more than 300 state-level officials.
***
Credit: Christina Matacotta for the AJC
Credit: Christina Matacotta for the AJC
SIGNATURE QUESTIONS. U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams joined other elected officials in questioning the use of signature match to verify the names of those who signed a petition opposing construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. The petitioners want a voter referendum on the issue.
Williams, D-Atlanta, released a statement on the matter Thursday:
“Petition drives are a new chapter in Atlanta's democracy. I've spoken with Mayor Dickens, and he shares my concern over using an exact match signature process to verify petition signers, as it has been proven to disproportionately impact voters of color. The City of Atlanta must pioneer a transparent system that ensures everyone who is eligible and chooses, has the opportunity to participate in the petition drive. As the City of Atlanta continues through this uncharted territory, we must center our civil rights legacy with a petition system that ensures fairness for every Atlantan."
Williams’ 5th Congressional District includes large portions of Atlanta. She’s also the chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Georgia.
***
Credit: Tom Brenner/The New York Times
Credit: Tom Brenner/The New York Times
TODAY IN WASHINGTON:
- President Joe Biden continues his vacation in Lake Tahoe.
- The U.S. House and Senate remain in recess through the end of August.
- U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams hosts a virtual town hall on reproductive rights from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
***
Credit: Nathan Posner for The AJC
Credit: Nathan Posner for The AJC
WRITE IT DOWN. In addition to introducing legislation, another way members of Congress signal their priorities is by writing letters to federal, state and local officials. That includes Georgia’s delegation.
- U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Lithonia, took the lead on a letter co-signed by 32 fellow House Democrats regarding ethics and recusal rules for the U.S. Supreme Court. He urged the chamber’s Republican leaders to schedule a floor vote on his proposed Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act.
- Congressmen Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, and Austin Scott, R-Tifton, jointly reached out to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the Postal Service’s Board of Governors asking them not to implement proposed cutbacks at the Macon Processing and Distribution facility. Bishop and Scott argue reductions could have a negative effect on service in middle and rural Georgia.
- Over 80 Democrats from the House and Senate sent a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to take more action on student loan debt cancellation no later than early 2024. Among the signers are U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock and Reps. Nikema Williams and Johnson. Williams is from Atlanta.
***
MLK’S DREAM. On Saturday, Americans will gather at the Lincoln Memorial to mark 60 years since the March on Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s iconic “I have a dream” speech. The anniversary is Monday.
The AJC’s Tia Mitchell and Ernie Suggs spoke with two of King’s children as well as former Ambassador Andrew Young and several members of Congress who attended the march, including U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Marietta.
All talked about the power harnessed that day, how the march led to legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and why they believe there is more to be done to achieve MLK’s dream.
***
MED SCHOOL MOVES. The Augusta-based Medical College of Georgia is stretching its stethoscope, opening a new clinical campus in Marietta and expanding its relationship with Georgia Southern University to a full four-year program.
Earlier this week, Dr. Elizabeth Gray was named dean for the GSU satellite, which is based at the university’s Armstrong campus in Savannah. Gray has led the Georgia Southern clinical campus, where third and fourth-year medical students train, since 2020.
Georgia Southern welcomes its first full med school class — 40 first-year students — in fall 2024. The additional students will expand MCG’s capacity to 304 doctors-in-training per year, making it among the top-five largest medical schools in the country.
The growth is meant to address a chronic issue facing Georgia — a physician shortage, particularly in rural counties. The topic is an annual part of the Georgia General Assembly’s agenda.
***
‘CLIMATE-SMART’ AG. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited the Georgia coast earlier this week to promote grants available to small forestland owners interested in “climate-smart agriculture.”
The Brunswick News reports Vilsack made his pitch to those attending the Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention network conference. The Inflation Reduction Act, passed last year, included approximately $150 million for tree farmers looking to sell their timber for biofuel or to offer carbon sequestration certificates, also known as carbon offsets.
Vilsack is in his second stint as ag secretary. He led the U.S. Department of Agriculture during Barack Obama’s presidency and was reappointed to the agency by Joe Biden following his 2020 election win.
***
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC
MASKED UP. The decision by Morris Brown College to mandate masks for the next two weeks due to COVID-19 concerns sparked outrage in conservative north Georgia.
“Americans have had enough COVID hysteria. WE WILL NOT COMPLY!” wrote U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Rome, in social media posts.
As the AJC’s Vanessa McCray reported earlier this week, Morris Brown took action after reports of coronavirus cases among Atlanta University Center Consortium students. Morris Brown is not part of the AUC but neighboring HBCUs Spelman and Morehouse colleges and Clark Atlanta University are in the consortium.
Morris Brown’s president told the AJC that the school had not detected COVID-19 cases on its own campus and added that the step is a precaution. Georgia’s COVID-19 numbers have risen in recent weeks but remain low overall.
***
Credit: Courtesy photo
Credit: Courtesy photo
DOG OF THE DAY. It’s been a week, people. And your prize for making it to Friday is this picture of Lainey Griffin, the Australian labradoodle who calls loyal AJC subscriber Reg Griffin her person.
You’re welcome.
Send us your dogs of any political persuasion and location, and cats on a cat-by-cat basis, to patricia.murphy@ajc.com, or DM us at @MurphyAJC.
***
AS ALWAYS, Jolt readers are some of our favorite tipsters. Send your best scoop, gossip and insider info to adam.vanbrimmer@ajc.com, patricia.murphy@ajc.com, tia.mitchell@ajc.com and greg.bluestein@ajc.com.
About the Authors
