What happens if Donald Trump doesn’t attend his arraignment in Fulton County?

Former president Donald Trump surrendered to authorities in Fulton, Georgia last week on criminal charges of election interference, in connection with an alleged scheme to reverse the presidential election results in the state.

He was released on a $200,000 bond, with the condition that he not intimidate witnesses or co-defendants by threatening them directly or indirectly, including on social media.

Arraignment of Trump and co-accused set for next week

Trump is now waiting to be arraigned on the 13 charges for which he was indicted. He is accused of participating in a “criminal enterprise” that attempted to overturn his loss in the election.

Unlike in his three earlier indictments, the ex-president was not arraigned at the time he was booked. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is leading the case, has asked for the arraignment of all 19 defendants to take place on the week of September 5. Trump is scheduled to be the first to be arraigned among the accused on September 6.

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Fulton County court does not require physical presence

Fulton County Superior Court allows defendants to attend their arraignments virtually, and also gives them the choice to not appear at all. The defendants can instead waive their formal arraignment and enter a not guilty plea in writing through their lawyer.

Trump is considering waiving his arraignment appearance, according to a report by CBS News. A number of his co-defendants have already done so, and have entered pleas of not guilty.

Trump has not yet filed the waiver with the court, but if he does, it would be the first time that he would not appear personally for his arraignment in the four criminal cases in which he has been indicted this year.