Exclusive: Georgia Democrat pushed to abolish cash bail, seemingly unaware it applied to felons too
Democratic nominee for Georgia Gov. Keisha Lance Bottoms said she was “deeply concerned” about efforts to get rid of cashless bail, without realizing it also applied to violent felons, according to leaked audio obtained by the Daily Caller.
The former Atlanta mayor privately told donors about her opposition to President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting cashless bail for violent criminals, arguing it would negatively affect poor people.
In the same breath, she inaccurately claimed that cashless bond doesn’t apply to felons, seemingly failing to understand the very legal system she wants to preside over. (RELATED: ‘Only An Additional Two Years’: Atlanta Mayor Says ‘Symbolism’ Of Hate Crime Charges Is Important In Georgia Shooting)
“I am deeply concerned,” Lance Bottoms said in the leaked audio. “I saw that President Trump is signing an executive order on cash bail bond. We want meaningful reform.”
“That has everything to do with who has money to pay to get out,” she added. “That doesn’t have anything to do with rising crime. You’re not letting felons sign cash bail bonds. Those are low level misdemeanors for people who, you gotta assume if I can’t renew my tag, then I probably can’t pay a bond either.”
Cash bail does apply to felonies in Georgia.
Trump’s executive order called for the federal government to identify and withhold federal funds from jurisdictions that “substantially eliminated cash bail as a potential condition of pretrial release from custody for crimes that pose a clear threat to public safety and order, including offenses involving violent, sexual, or indecent acts, or burglary, looting, or vandalism.”
During her time as mayor, Lance Bottoms signed an ordinance to eliminate cash bond requirements for certain offenses like begging, urinating in public, or public drunkenness. She also presided over a major crime wave during her tenure as mayor.
Lance Bottoms will face off against Republican nominee Rick Jackson in the general election Nov. 3.

