A court in the US state of Georgia has ordered bail of US$ 200,000 (around 184,000 euros) following the charges against former US President Donald Trump in connection with attempted electoral fraud. In the four criminal proceedings currently underway, it is the first time that such a monetary condition has become known. According to the document, prosecutor Fani Willis and Trump’s defense attorneys agreed to the conditions formulated by Judge Scott McAfee.
Trump intends to appear at the Atlanta County Jail on Thursday, CNN reported on Monday (local time), citing two anonymous sources close to the former president. “Can you believe it? I will be arrested in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday,” Trump himself said on Truth Social, a platform he co-founded. As before, the 77-year-old described the prosecution against him as a “witch hunt,” in which the “radical left” prosecutor was involved in close consultation with the Justice Department of his successor Joe Biden. “It’s about ELECTION INTERFERENCE!” Trump concluded his post.
Trump is prohibited from sharing with other co-defendants
The Atlanta court documents released on Monday also show that Trump is not allowed to exchange details of the case with the 18 co-defendants, except through lawyers. He is also forbidden from intimidating potential witnesses and obstructing legal work. There has been criticism in the past for Trump writing on Truth Social after the other charges: “If you’re after me, then I’m after you!”
The court also released $100,000 in bail from Trump’s co-defendant former attorney, John Eastman. He is considered one of the main organizers of the diverse efforts to turn the election result in Georgia in Trump’s favor. Trump faces extensive charges in the state related to attempted voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
Trump must report to prison authorities
When presenting her indictment, prosecutor Willis demanded that Trump and the other suspects report to the authorities in an Atlanta prison by Friday noon (local time). On Monday it initially looked as if this deadline would have to be met. US media have already reported increased security around the Atlanta County Jail.
The former real estate mogul is the first ex-president in US history to face criminal charges. A total of four criminal cases are pending against him – in addition to the one in Georgia, others in Washington, New York and Miami. In New York, prosecutors are charging Trump with falsifying business documents, in Miami with keeping secret government documents. In the US capital Washington, the Republican has been charged at federal level for his attempts to overturn the results of the presidential election.
Trump is still talking about voter fraud
Trump has not yet admitted his defeat in the 2020 election and is spreading the lie that voter fraud robbed him of his victory against Democrat Joe Biden. For lack of evidence, dozens of his camp’s lawsuits were dismissed after elections in courts across the country, including the US Supreme Court.
Trump is trying to delay the start of the processes as much as possible – also with a view to the election campaign for the next vote: he wants to go back to the White House for the Republicans after the 2024 presidential election.? There is no rule in the United States that a conviction would bar him from running or, if he were victorious, from serving as President.
