Donald Trump Has Been Arrested

Let's talk about all the conditions that Trump DOES NOT have to comply with that other accused criminals often do.

1) Stay in South Florida.

Unlike most accused felons, Trump can hop in his jet and fly all over the world raising money. https://t.co/epbYrmEl9p pic.twitter.com/aS4OzHuioJ

— emptywheel (@emptywheel) June 14, 2023

How we usually treat the arrested.

3) Turn in his passport.

4) Call his probation officer every week to assure her he was staying out of trouble. pic.twitter.com/5RwgjDmPc7

— emptywheel (@emptywheel) June 14, 2023

8) and 9) Find a job that doesn't involve defrauding small donors. pic.twitter.com/Tt95o1sOWl

— emptywheel (@emptywheel) June 14, 2023

11) Let his probation officer search his phone. pic.twitter.com/u1JG3QZIkm

— emptywheel (@emptywheel) June 14, 2023

Much of this was not applied to Trump because the government didn’t ask for it all.

Also, this offers clarity, after a great deal of confusion, about the no-contact provisions. Note that the judge, not DOJ imposed it. https://t.co/LAinZATmAy

— emptywheel (@emptywheel) June 14, 2023

It is an excellent report on what happened at the arraignment. And, to put it in a tweet, there are good reasons for what the government didn’t ask for:

I think some people are ignoring how Trump would have exploited the normal symbols of being a pre-released defendant to sow violence.

Imagine how much he would play up an ankle bracelet, for example.

— emptywheel (@emptywheel) June 14, 2023

Violence? Well, it would certainly have given the House GOP something new to scream about. I mean, treating a Presidential candidate like any other alleged stealer of state secrets? That’s the actions of a wannabe dictator!