Originally published August 21, 2023 4:00 pm PDT
Former President Donald Trump on Monday was issued a bond amounting to $200,000 by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee in connection to allegations surrounding the 2020 election overturn efforts.
This bond comes with specific conditions distinct from those set for his co-defendants, according to a report from The Hill.
Judge McAfee made a pointed statement when detailing Trump’s bond conditions, specifying that Trump should not attempt any form of intimidation, direct or indirect, towards co-defendants or witnesses.
Highlighting the scope of the stipulation, the order clarifies that even social media posts or resharing others’ posts can be considered a violation.
The bond order stipulates, “The Defendant shall perform no act to intimidate any person known to him or her to be a codefendant or witness in this case or to otherwise obstruct the administration of justice.”
For Trump, the order further emphasized the prohibition of any “indirect threat of any nature” against co-defendants, victims, witnesses, or the 30 unindicted co-conspirators.
Trump, along with 18 others, has been charged by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over alleged efforts to contest the legitimacy of the 2020 elections.
Responding to the charges, Trump has firmly denied any wrongdoing.
Ahead of the looming deadline for voluntary surrender set for noon on Friday, Judge McAfee had been approving the pretrial release conditions for the co-defendants.
The bond amounts were determined based on the individual charges faced by each defendant.
The terms for most defendants were fairly standard, with Trump’s conditions being the noticeable exception.
Also on Monday, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, singling out Willis for criticism and pointing to crime rates in Atlanta.
Trump wrote, “Governor Kemp of Georgia is fighting hard against the Impeachment of the crooked, incompetent, & highly partisan D.A. of Fulton County, Fani Willis, who has allowed Murder and other Violent Crime to MASSIVELY ESCALATE. Crime in Atlanta is WORST IN NATION. She should be impeached for many reasons, not just the Witch Hunt (I did nothing wrong!). Willis should focus on out of control Murder, not ‘I will get TRUMP’ over a Perfect Phone Call. Georgia does not deserve this GIANT MURDER WAVE!”
