Trump Georgia co-defendant wants bond eased to work on 2024 campaign

A co-defendant in former President Trump’s 2020 election subversion case has asked a judge to ease his bond so he can work on Trump’s 2024 campaign.

Harrison Floyd, former leader of Black Voices for Trump, asked that a Fulton County (Ga.) judge consider easing his bond so he can communicate and use social media platforms. As it stands, Floyd cannot contact Trump or any other witness or co-defendant in the case, which his lawyer argues makes it difficult for him to hold a job on the campaign.

Floyd has asked the judge to ease his bond so he can use X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, “to speak his mind about this case” and to allow him to speak with other co-defendants or “’conspirators’” about “his work or matters outside of this prosecution,” his lawyer said at a hearing Tuesday.

Judge Scott McAfee said he was “open to considering” the request while balancing “reasonable restrictions” and “where we are,” as Trump remains the front-runner in the 2024 GOP presidential primaries.

In November 2023, McAfee determined the bond agreement set for Floyd must be updated to reflect “the nuances of social media.” The judge said he believed Floyd made a “technical violation” of his bond.

Floyd often posted on X multiple times per day following his bond agreement, and in some instances tagged co-defendants in his social media posts, which Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) alleged violated Floyd’s bond agreement prohibiting him from indirectly communicating with co-defendants or future witnesses.

Floyd’s attorney argued that since Floyd is an employee of the Trump campaign, the former president is his boss. He asked if communication between the two could be limited to “work purposes.” He argued that Floyd’s ability to fundraise has been impacted because “the court essentially silenced him.”

McAfee said Tuesday that he won’t “cross that bridge” of allowing Floyd to communicate with “any currently indicted co-defendant” but said he was willing to consider allowing Floyd to “comment on current events.”

The judge said since there is “really no method of oversight,” he does not think granting Floyd the ability to speak with Trump is “something we’re going to be able to allow” but said he thinks the current order, which restricts him from commenting about the upcoming election, is not necessary.

McAfee said “at a minimum” he is “willing to modify that,” and said he will take a look at the language surrounding Floyd’s ability to have indirect contact with co-defendants, but said he will take the request under advisement.