Orland Park Pastor Last To Surrender In Trump Georgia Case

FULTON COUNTY, GA — A reverend with ties to an Orland Park church surrendered to authorities Friday in Georgia, where he faces various racketeering charges along with former President Donald J. Trump and 17 others.

Rev. Stephen J. Lee, who serves as a pastor at Living Word Lutheran Church in Orland Park, turned himself in Friday afternoon, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Lee was among the associates and supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump to be charged in a sweeping racketeering indictment Aug. 14, Patch previously reported. As of Friday afternoon, all 19 defendants have now turned themselves in, with Lee being the last.

The group, which includes Trump, is accused of trying to interfere with the 2020 presidential election.

Trump himself surrendered late Thursday evening and was immediately released on $200,000 bond, Patch reported. He was charged on suspicion of violation of the Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organizations Act, three counts of solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, two counts of first-degree conspiracy to commit forgery, two counts of conspiracy to commit false statements and writings, conspiracy to commit filing false documents, filing false documents and false statements and writings.

According to the 98-page indictment, Lee conspired with Chicago publicist Trevian Kutti, Harrison Floyd, a former mixed martial arts fighter who led the group Black Voices for Trump, and Scott Hall, a bail bondsman in the Atlanta area in connection with alleged efforts to pressure a Georgia election worker to lie about election fraud, Patch reported.

Lee is charged with two counts of criminal attempt to commit influencing witnesses, conspiracy to commit solicitation of false statements and writings, influencing witnesses, and violation of the Georgia RICO Act, according to Fulton County Jail records.

Lee is pleading not guilty to the charges, his lawyer David Shestokas told the Chicago Tribune. With help from the Illinois Family Institute, he was able to bond out at $7,500.

He intends to be back leading services at Living Word on Sunday, according to the Tribune.