Many Daily Kos readers were understandably upset when Travis Reinking initially had bail set at $2 million after his capture.
Though it was impossible that he could satisfy that amount (assets totaling that number would have had to have been presented) the idea someone charged in a mass killing might be released on bail bothered people.
I initially responded that we should get all the facts before judging, although I personally questioned that his was a reasonable offer.
It has now been revoked — see below from The Tennesseean:
Nashville Judge Michael Mondelli on Tuesday issued an order revoking the $2 million bond for Travis Reinking, the suspect in a deadly mass shooting at an Antioch Waffle House on Sunday. Reinking, 29, is accused of killing four people and injuring several others in the Sunday morning shooting that set a city on edge and drew international media attention. He was arrested Monday afternoon and was originally jailed on a $2 million bond that was set by a Night Court Magistrate Bruce Kessler.
www.tennessean.com/...
Some facts from last night and today, in some cases contrary to what was in the main diary published last night.
1) Tennessee does in many capital murder cases offer (high) bail, usually not acted on because of the amounts. Other states do as well. Tennessee also doesn’t offer in other cases. One case I found where it was offered ($1.5 million) was of someone killing a woman and then eating her remains, so heinous murders seem to get this offer.
2) The judge who set the initial # was not, as the diary claimed (and made him the villain) Michael Mondelli. It was set by a night magistrate, Bruce Kessler.
3) People familiar with TN law can chime in, but I did see a report that bail set by a night magistrate is often reviewed by a day time judge (if someone walks in the door with $2 million cash, would a suspect be set free? Not even sure that would happen.)
4) Mondelli is an elected Democratic judge. He did revoke bail.
5) The night magistrate, Bruce Kessler, has a Facebook page. He doesn’t post much, but his political postings on politics seems to be mostly strongly anti-Trump. Doesn’t exonerate him from criticism for the initial ruling if it was wrong. Just the assumption that first Mondelli and possibly now Kessler are some sort of alt.right racists is not an accurate impression.
Again, that any amount was initially suggested does seem wrong. I was concerned last night there was a rush to judgment, understandable but unfortunate, before all the facts were in. It’s good to be vigilant, and outrage often can be appropriate. But as many people who posted on the site agreed, it’s best to not make knee jerk assumptions or to bully people who question those who do.
