Former US president, Donald Trump bemoaned a “travesty of justice” after he was arrested and booked at a notorious Atlanta jail on racketeering and conspiracy charges.
According to The Telegraph, he called it a “very sad day for America”, adding: “I did nothing wrong.”
The former president also had a booking photo taken while he was processed in the city’s Fulton County Jail.
It marks the first time a sitting or former US president has been captured in a mugshot, just the latest ignominy for the four-time indicted Mr Trump.
Mr Trump, the frontrunner in the Republican 2024 presidential primary race, is expected to exploit what is set to become a world-famous image to boost his campaign coffers.
He has claimed the charges against him are a political “witch hunt” and accused his Democratic opponents of “election interference.”
He waved to reporters on his arrival and departure at the jailhouse, where he spent less than 30 minutes.
He gave an address on the tarmac of Atlanta’s international airport before returning to his Bedminster, New Jersey golf resort on his private jet.
He said: “What has taken place here is a travesty of justice.
“If you challenge an election, you should be able to challenge an election”.
Mr Trump returned to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, for the first time since January 2021 to broadcast the image shortly after leaving the jailhouse.
“Election interference. Never surrender!” said the accompanying caption.
Commentators wryly noted the juxtaposition of the words against an image of Mr Trump surrendering in jail.
