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A quick survey of today’s Google News headlines, concerning the Indicted Defendant in Georgia, all seem to be focusing on one thing — the amount of Bond to be paid by the Defendant: $200,000.
This is the wrong thing to be focused on, in my opinion. For one thing, $200K is chump change for the grifting machine otherwise known as the Defendant’s “MAGA defense fund.” For another thing, only 10% of that amount must be paid in the form of Bail, by the Defendant, when he shows up for his booking. This is spelled out in the CONSENT BOND ORDER FOR DEFENDANT DONALD JOHN TRUMP (pg 1).
The more important things that we the people should be focused on, in my opinion, are instead the restrictions on his behavior, that the Defendant has “consented to” — as part of his agreement to be out on Bond, as he awaits his criminal RICO trial.
Violate your Bond restrictions, and forfeit your conditional freedom … so says this “contract” between Trump and the SUPERIOR COURT OF FULTON COUNTY GEORGIA:
STATE OF GEORGIA V. DONALD JOHN TRUMP
CONSENT BOND ORDER FOR DEFENDANT DONALD JOHN TRUMP
[...]
Defendant may post bond as cash, through commercial surety, or through the Fulton County Jail 10% program.
(2) The Defendant shall not violate the laws of this State, the laws of any other state, the laws of the United States of America, or any other local laws. Ayala v. State, 262 Ga. 704, 705 (1993).
(3) The Defendant shall appear in court as directed by the Court. Id.
(4) 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. Id. This shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
a. The Defendant shall make no direct or indirect threat of any nature against any codefendant;
b. The Defendant shall make no direct or indirect threat of any nature against any witness including, but not limited to, the individuals designated in the Indictment as an unindicated co-conspirators Individual 1 through Individual 30;
c. The Defendant shall make no direct or indirect threat of any nature against any victim;
d. The Defendant shall make no direct or indirect threat of any nature against the community or to any property in the community;
e. The above shall include, but are not limited to, posts on social media or reposts of posts made by another individual on social media;
(5) The Defendant shall not communicate in any way, directly or indirectly, about the facts of this case with any person known to him to be a codefendant in this case except through his or her counsel.
[emphasis added]
Trump will probably violate half of these in the first week of his release, under his own recognizance. If his past behavior on social media is any predictor of his future performance.
Ben Meiselas of the MeidasTouch Network explores these legally binding constraints on the Defendant’s behavior, in today’s post:
Trump Gets Hit with POWERFUL ORDER in Georgia Criminal Case
MeidasTouch — 8/21/2023
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Among other things Meiselas contends that restrictions:
- (4) e. concerning “social media post and reposts” will be the most troublesome for Trump.
- (4) e. appears to be designed and inserted specifically to target his favorite means of attack.
- (4) d. reference of threats on “any property in the community” are meant to include the Fulton County Courts and Judicial Administration buildings.
- And finally regarding all the restrictions, “DA Willis will not hesitate for a moment,” if the Trump violates these restrictions, “to bring them to the filing Judge,” who issued this Order.
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If the Bond Order is revoked, not only will the Bond payment evaporate, but also theoretically, will the Defendants free reign of threatening behavior.
May it be so. Trump’s threats against public officials and the judicial system has gone far enough.
Soon or later, Trump’s not-so-idle threats will result in someone getting hurt.
And NOW Trump has agreed in a legally binding court order, to no longer make them.
Or else ...
Wouldn’t it be karmic justice, if his ongoing threats finally result in his arrest — and confinement.
No one to blame, but his own sorry self.
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