Former President Trump and Co-Defendants to Surrender to Authorities in Atlanta

Former president Donald Trump and his 18 co-defendants in a sprawling racketeering case have until Aug. 25 to surrender to authorities in Atlanta — and, unless plans change, be booked at “Rice Street,” the notorious Fulton County Jail.

There have been ongoing problems with overcrowding in the jail, along with violence, overflowing toilets, and faulty air conditioning. The sheriff called the environment a “humanitarian crisis” last month when the Justice Department opened an investigation after an inmate was found dead, covered in bed bugs and lice. And the building is falling apart, a point the sheriff tried to illustrate to county leaders by collecting hundreds of weapons fashioned from chunks of the crumbling walls and loading them into four wheelbarrows his deputies rolled into a public meeting last year.

“What you’ll see in these wheelbarrows are shanks. Right now, they total over 1,100 shanks,” said Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat, who oversees the jail and has pushed for funding to replace it. “These are pieces of the building that have been ripped apart, fashioned into knives, fashioned into deadly weapons.”

All signs indicate that Trump and his co-defendants would likely be booked at Rice Street Jail, undergoing a medical exam, fingerprinting, and taking a mugshot. However, it is not expected that they would spend time in a holding cell or among the general detained population.

The possibility of their visit has brought national attention to the troubled jail, located near Atlanta’s West Midtown area.

The jail has faced ongoing problems with overcrowding, deteriorating conditions, and allegations of neglect. Six inmates have died in the jail so far this year, and the Justice Department launched an investigation in response. The sheriff’s office announced that two inmates have died while in custody.

Advocates argue that the current jail is mismanaged and inhumane, and they have called for improved conditions and the construction of a new facility. The sheriff has proposed a new jail with 4,500 beds, citing the need for better housing for inmates.

The jail has a long history of problems and federal oversight. It was built in the 1980s to address overcrowding at the previous facility, but it quickly became obsolete. Over the years, the jail has faced numerous issues, including inadequate medical care, inhumane treatment, and facility deterioration.

The jail continues to face challenges, including power outages and security breaches. Federal investigators are currently touring the facility as part of an ongoing investigation. Advocates and legal organizations are pushing for improved conditions and accountability.

The troubled state of Rice Street Jail and the high-profile visit of former President Trump and his co-defendants have once again drawn attention to the issues of overcrowding, mismanagement, and inhumane conditions in the facility. Calls for change and the construction of a new jail persist as advocates and officials seek to address the longstanding problems.