Court limits Trump social media use

A judge Monday limited former President Trump’s social media use in connection to the an indictment in Georgia that charged him with 13 counts related to his and his allies’ efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the state.

Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee signed the order banning Trump from contacting his co-defendants or witnesses in the case, except through their attorneys. It also bans the former president from intimidating co-defendants or witnesses in the case, including through posts on social media.

“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,” the order says.

“The above shall include, but are not limited to, posts on social media or reposts of posts made by another individual on social media,” it states.

This is not the first time the former president has been warned to limit his social media use and public statements in one of his ongoing legal battles.

U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Trump’s federal 2020 election case, warned both sides of the case to take “special care” to avoid making any statements that could intimidate witnesses or prejudice the jury pool earlier this month.

The former president and 18 others were charged last week in Fulton County, Ga., for their actions related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the state. The defendants have until Friday at noon to voluntarily surrender themselves.

The order also set a $200,000 bond for the former president alongside its warning to not intimidate co-defendants or the witnesses. This order was more detailed than other bond orders the judge signed for some of the other co-defendants Monday, clearly outlining that Trump’s ban includes social media posts and an “indirect threat of any nature.”

Trump confirmed in a Truth Social post Monday that he would turn himself in to Georgia authorities Thursday.