Trump's New Target: 'Cashless Bail'

President Trump is flexing his executive authority in a bid to end the practice of "cashless bail"—in which suspects are allowed to go free before trial without putting up any money. Coverage:

• The orders: Trump signed two related executive orders on Monday, reports Fox News, one that applies to Washington, DC, and another for the states. Axios first reported on the DC order, and the New York Post did so on the national one. Trump doesn't have the authority to dictate state policies on bail, but the order directs the attorney general to identify jurisdictions that allow cashless bonds. The next step would be to cut off federal funds to those jurisdictions.
• Rationale: "Cashless bail policies allow dangerous individuals to immediately return to the streets and further endanger law-abiding, hard-working Americans because they know our laws will not be enforced," a White House memo states. Or as Trump put it Monday: "Somebody kills somebody, they go and don't worry about it," he said as he signed the orders, per the New York Times. "No cash. Come back in a couple of months. We'll give you a trial. You never see the person again."

• Where: Not all states allow cashless bail, notes the Hill. Illinois is one that does, while other states such as New York and New Jersey allow cashless bail under certain circumstances. DC began using the practice decades ago.
• Fact check: The president has previously asserted that "every place in the country where you have no cash bail is a disaster," adding: "Somebody murders somebody and they're out on no cash bail before the day is out." But a post at FactCheck.org finds that to be a "distortion." Typically, states still require cash bail for violent offenses. "And in the states where it is possible for a murder suspect to be freed pending trial without cash bail, per a judge's discretion, it is exceedingly rare."

This story was updated to reflect Trump's signing of the executive orders.