Trump campaign fundraising email says he was "tortured" in jail

Former President Trump's campaign used a Monday fundraising email to criticize his treatment at Fulton County Jail in Georgia, describing his experience during the process of taking his historic mug shot as "torture", Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Trump has frequently capitalized on his mug shot for fundraising purposes, with the email promoting coffee mugs featuring his image.

"I want you to remember what they did to me. They tortured me in the Fulton County Jail, and TOOK MY MUGSHOT. So guess what? I put it on a mug for the WHOLE WORLD TO SEE!" the fundraising email stated.

Last August, Trump surrendered to Fulton County Jail as part of his criminal indictment in Georgia, which involves 13 counts related to his efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 election.

Upon arrival at the jail in a presidential-style motorcade, Trump underwent booking procedures including fingerprinting and being photographed for his mug shot. This made Trump the first U.S. president, past or present, known to have had his mug shot taken.

The campaign previously sent a similar email in May promoting merchandise featuring Trump's mug shot, including coffee mugs, which also referenced the term "torture."

Trump has continuously highlighted his arrest and mug shot, leveraging them to sell merchandise such as T-shirts, mugs, koozies, and bumper stickers bearing his image and the slogan "Never surrender."

In Georgia, Trump and 18 others were indicted on allegations of involvement in an illegal scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election. While four defendants have pleaded guilty under deals with prosecutors, Trump and others have pleaded not guilty.

This case in Georgia is one of four criminal cases Trump faces, including a recent conviction last month in New York where he was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments made before the 2016 election.