Where did Donald Trump’s $200,000 bail money come from?
Trump was required, for the first time, to pay $200,000 in bail for his release from Fulton County Jail. But he didn’t use his own money. Whose was it?
Donald Trump turned himself in to law enforcement authorities at the Rice Street Jail in Fulton County, Georgia on Thursday. His was booked like an ordinary defendant, getting fingerprinted and for the first time getting his mug shot taken. Another first, unlike the previous three times he was processed on multiple criminal charges, he was required to pay bail.
On Monday his lawyers reached an agreement with prosecutors to set his bail amount at $200,000 along with other conditions for his release after booking. In Fulton County a defendant has three ways to post bail; cash, the county jail’s 10% program or through “commercial surety.”
As first reported by CNN, Trump chose the final option going through an Atlanta metro bonding company. The former president’s lawyers contracted Foster Bail Bonds to execute Trump’s bond. Other codefendants in the Georgia election subversion case are reportedly also using the services of bail bond companies including former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and former Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
Trump’s $200,000 bail and conditions of release
Trump is facing 13 counts for attempting to illegally overturn the legitimate elections results in Georgia. The indictment was handed down by a Fulton County grand jury based on evidence provided to them by District Attorney Fani Willis. She and the judge overseeing the case, Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, signed off on the “consent bond order” which in addition to requiring $200,000 bail also restricts the former president from intimidating codefendants or witnesses including through social media posts, whether his own or re-posting those of others. The order as well states: “The Defendant shall make no direct or indirect threat of any nature against the community or to any property in the community.”
Each of the 13 counts against Trump carries their own bail amount with the largest, $80,000, for allegedly violating Georgia’s RICO, or racketeering, act. The bail amount for each of the other 12 counts is $10,000. Below is a breakdown of the counts Trump is facing and bail amounts.
| Charge | Bail amount |
|---|---|
| Violation Of The Georgia Rico (Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organizations) Act | $80,000 |
| Solicitation of Violation of Oath by Public Officer | $10,000 |
| Conspiracy To Commit Impersonating a Public Officer | $10,000 |
| Conspiracy To Commit Forgery in the First Degree | $10,000 |
| Conspiracy To Commit False Statements and Writings | $10,000 |
| Conspiracy To Commit Filing False Documents | $10,000 |
| Conspiracy To Commit Forgery in the First Degree | $10,000 |
| Conspiracy To Commit False Statements and Writings | $10,000 |
| Filing False Documents | $10,000 |
| Solicitation of Violation of Oath by Public Officer | $10,000 |
| False Statements and Writings | $10,000 |
| Solicitation of Violation of Oath by Public Officer | $10,000 |
| False Statements and Writings | $10,000 |
How do bail bonds work?
Were the ex-president to have put up cash, he would have been able to recoup the entire amount, regardless of whether he is found innocent or guilty, if he satisfied the appearance requirements of the bond order. However, since he is using a professional bail bond company he will not be able to recover the fee for using their services while Foster Bail Bonds will get back their money.