Western Reader
In an astonishing turn of events, the lower court declared former President Trump a flight risk. This surprising declaration came amidst a secret subpoena related to Trump’s Twitter account.
The court’s rationale behind this decision is as perplexing as it is controversial.
The district court found ‘reasonable grounds to believe’ that revealing the warrant to Trump could potentially compromise the ongoing investigation. The court feared Trump might destroy evidence, alter his behavior, or alert his associates.
However, the logic behind how Trump could possibly destroy evidence held by Twitter, especially after the company has been instructed to preserve and disclose the metadata, remains unclear.
OMFG – Jack Smith “errantly” claimed Trump was a flight risk to convince Judge Beryl Howell to prevent Trump from knowing about the Twitter search warrant.
BERYL HOWELL AGREED THAT TRUMP WOULD “FLEE FROM PROSECTION” so she ordered the case sealed. pic.twitter.com/P3CxqSKkl8
— Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) August 9, 2023
Adding to the intrigue, the D.C. Circuit opinion included an additional reason for their decision – the possibility of Trump fleeing the country.
The court believes one of the most recognized figures in the world, with round-the-clock security, might evade his security detail and go into hiding.
Judge Howell concurred with this seemingly absurd notion, despite Trump never having attempted to flee from numerous lawsuits and criminal charges filed against him across the country.
This bizarre finding of Trump being a flight risk seriously undermines the credibility of the court’s order. While there’s no questioning the court’s power to enforce the release of information, the necessity for such secrecy is far from evident.
Instead, it appears to have successfully thwarted any potential challenge.
Special Counsel Jack Smith’s subpoena of Twitter was surprising on multiple fronts. Not only was the subpoena kept secret, but it was also justified partly on the grounds of Trump being a flight risk.
The hefty $350,000 fine imposed by U.S. District Court Beryl Howell for a mere three-day delay by Twitter in responding to the demand adds another layer of concern to this unfolding saga.
The assumption is that Jack Smith first claimed that Trump was a flight risk. Obviously, he has a plane and a lot of money. However, he is also one of the most recognized figures on Earth with a security detail. Would he take them on the lam?
https://t.co/ep3jyW8Ddn— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) August 10, 2023
Smith obtained a search warrant related to Trump’s Twitter account and sought the information with a nondisclosure order.
This order prohibited Twitter from disclosing the existence or contents of the search warrant to Trump or anyone else. Yet, given that Trump was already aware of the investigation, the need for such nondisclosure raises eyebrows.
The court’s belief that Trump might change his course of conduct seems unlikely. Trump’s consistency in his social media practices is well-known. Despite criticism for his posts, he has remained undeterred, further questioning the court’s reasoning.
In conclusion, this case presents a series of puzzling decisions and assumptions. The idea of Trump, a man under constant surveillance and one of the most recognizable faces globally, being a flight risk is as baffling as it is unprecedented.
This article appeared in StatesmanPost and has been published here with permission.
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