Bond agreements have been set for many of the co-defendants in the Fulton County 2020 election case, one day after former President Donald Trump had his bond set for $200,000.
Former Georgia GOP Chair David Shafer must post a $75,000 bond in the case filed against President Trump and 18 co-defendants.
The order for Mr. Shafer was filed on Aug. 22, along with a $10,o00 bond set for a current Georgia state senator, Shawn Still.
Judge Scott McAfee also set bond at $75,000 for Cathleen Latham, the former GOP chair in Coffee County, Georgia, Ms. Latham faces 11 charges. Former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis, who faces two charges, has agreed to post a $100,000 bond.
A former top official for President Trump’s 2020 election campaign, Michael Roman, faces seven counts. His bond was set at $50,000.
Judge McAfee set bond at $50,000 for attorney Robert Cheeley, who faces 10 charges including perjury; the bond for Illinois pastor Stephen Lee, who is accused of five offenses, is $75,000.
As of 5:40 p.m ET, at least 12 of the co-defendants had bond amounts set. Records didn’t yet show the status of the remaining seven co-defendants. The highest amount, $200,000, applies to President Trump. Mr. Still, unlike the other defendants so far, is permitted to file what is known as a “signature” bond, promising to appear in court or forfeit $10,000. The other defendants are allowed to post 10 percent of the bond amount through a bail bondsman.
Ironically, a man who works as a bail bondsman, Scott Hall, has been charged in the case and was not afforded the opportunity to post a signature bond, according to court records. His bond was set at $10,000 cash or surety.
Under a standard order filed in each of the cases, the defendants must report to pretrial services every 30 days. They’re also restricted from communicating about the case with others who are directly connected to it, except through attorneys. And, specifically, President Trump is forbidden from making direct or indirect threats against anyone involved, including via social media posts of any kind.
All 19 defendants are charged with violating Georgia’s anti-racketeering law. Authorities allege that the defendants participated in a criminal enterprise to unlawfully keep President Trump, a Republican, in office after his Democrat challenger, Joe Biden, was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election. President Trump has called the Biden presidency illegitimate. He and his supporters say they had a right to contest the election results. But Georgia authorities allege their opposition went outside the bounds of the law.
In addition to the racketeering charge, each defendant faces additional accusations.
Mr. Shafer is accused of eight charges: racketeering plus impersonating a public officer and six charges alleging false writings or false statements. Mr. Still is charged with seven counts that largely mirror Mr. Shafer’s charges.
Bond-setting agreements started being filed on Aug. 21, a week after a Fulton County grand jury voted to indict the 45th president and his allies. Then, a day later, on Aug. 22, defendants began surrendering at the jail after their bond orders were filed. President Trump has said he will be surrendering on Aug. 24, a day before the deadline for him and all other defendants to turn themselves in or face arrest.
