Georgia’s State Representative Roger Bruce introduced a bill prohibiting the release of mug shots until the person is convicted of crimes. If this bill had been introduced earlier, the world would not have seen Trump’s mug shot, but the story does not end with the former president’s infamous photo.
Waiting for the Conviction
The bill introduced by Democratic representative Bruce would “prohibit the release or posting of a booking photograph unless and until the individual depicted therein is convicted.”
House Bill 882
It was introduced in early January and is known as House Bill 882. Accidentally or not, Bruce represents the part of Fulton County where Trump’s infamous mug shot was taken.
Bruce’s Argument
The Democrat told Atlanta’s 11Alive News, “Just because you’ve been arrested does not mean you’ve committed a crime. You’ve been accused of a crime.” Bruce added, “If you’ve been exonerated, you should not have your mug shot out on the internet.”
Sounds Good in Theory
Richard T. Griffiths, president emeritus of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation, told Newsweek that the bill is “well-intentioned but misguided” and added, “A transparent arrest process actually protects the offender, and that process is public for a reason.”
Step in the Wrong Direction
Griffiths elaborated, “It’s important for democracy to know it is treating people fairly, and at a time where opaque operations of police are under scrutiny in many jurisdictions, this would be a step backward.”
The Bill is Wrongly Worded
Griffiths explained that the proposed bill would prevent law enforcement agencies from sharing photos between themselves, but it would also create confusion regarding people who share names, for example. Overall, Griffiths is not keen on the wording of the proposed bill.
Real-World Example
The president emeritus explained what this would look like in the real world, “Somebody is arrested, booked, bailed out, and then is wanted for a more serious crime. Law enforcement wouldn’t be allowed to post that and say, ‘Hey, we’re looking for this guy.'”
Trump’s Campaign is Still Making Money
Trump’s campaign has reported raising millions from shirts, mugs, and other merch with Trump’s mug shot. It is the first mug shot of someone who was president of the USA, so it is no surprise that the photo went viral. Trump even sold pieces of the suit from the mug shot, making the moment bigger than the actual arrest.
Trump’s Georgia Indictment
The former president and 18 others were charged under a wide-ranging illegal conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Fulton Country, Georgia. Since the arraignments, some of the co-conspirators entered the guilty plea.
Trump’s Mug Shot was Praised by His Attorney
Alina Habba, Trump’s attorney, said that the release of Trump’s mug shot was likely “one of the best things that ever happened to him.” While on Newsmax, Habba also commented, “It shows his strength and resilience, and you really can’t ignore it at this point. The more they hit him, the more he just comes back up stronger.”
The “Never Surrender!” Irony
Following the mug shot’s release, Trump shared “Never Surrender” on X with a link to his website. This was his first post since January 2021. The irony was not lost on many since Trump surrendered to law enforcement in Georgia when the mug shot was taken.
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