He was the last one with a collar.
A former police officer turned Lutheran pastor charged with Donald Trump was the last of the former president’s 18 co-accused to turn himself in to Fulton County authorities on Friday — wearing his clerkship for a photo op.
Stephen Clifford Lee looks sultry in a booking photo that has his tab collar shirt in full view.
Lee’s attorney, David Shestokas, previously told the Chicago Sun-Times that the 70-year-old would surrender on Friday morning, shortly before the noon deadline set by Fulton County DA Fani Willis.
Bond for Lee was set at $75,000, which Shestokas slammed as “excessive.”
“He is a priest. These are not people who do things to get rich,” the lawyer said mockingly.
Lee posed for his mugshot with his clerical collar in full view.via REUTERS
“There is no reason to believe he is a flight risk. I advised them that he was not rich and would not be able to make a bond.”
As of Friday afternoon, however, the Fulton County Jail indicated that Lee was released after being booked.
Some of Lee’s bond funds may be provided by the Christian organization Illinois Family Institute, which announced Thursday that it is raising funds to support Lee, whom it calls “America’s Chaplain.”
Lee was caught on body camera in December 2020 allegedly trying to intimidate an election worker. via REUTERS
Lee, of Orland Park, Illinois, faces five counts in an indictment handed up by a grand jury Aug. 14 related to his alleged attempt to pressure Georgia election worker Ruby Freeman into falsely admitting to election fraud.
Lee and Chicago publicist Trevian Kutti were both charged with violating Georgia’s RICO Act, conspiracy to solicit false statements and writings and influence witnesses. Lee faces two additional charges of criminal attempt to influence a witness.
Kutti, who formerly worked with Kanye West and R. Kelly, also turned himself in Friday and was released on $75,000 bond, according to Fulton County records.
Donald Trump surrendered on Thursday evening. FULTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE/AFP via Getty Images
In December 2020, Lee was caught on police body camera footage when authorities responded to a 911 call from Freeman, who was publicly accused by Trump and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani of illegal vote counting, the Sun-Times reported.
Freeman called 911 after Lee allegedly repeatedly knocked on her door.
When confronted by his vehicle, Lee – who was wearing his collar – told police he was “working with some people to help Ruby out” and “get the truth.”
Publicist Trevian Kutti also turned himself in to Fulton County on Friday morning.AP
When Freeman refused to talk to him, prosecutors said, Lee recruited Kutti and Harrison Floyd, then the director of Black Voices for Trump, to set up a meeting with him.
According to the Fulton County indictment, Lee told Floyd that he thought Freeman was afraid to talk to him because Lee was a white man.
Lee is a pastor outside of Chicago.Living Word Lutheran Church/YouTube
Lee was a police officer in California in the 1980s before being ordained as a minister through the conservative Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, according to the website of his former organization, Peace Officer Ministries.
He is currently a pastor at Living Word Lutheran Church in Orland Park, southwest of Chicago, the Sun-Times said.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
