Donald Trump has been the subject of numerous investigations, both during his time as president and since leaving office. As the number of criminal probes has mounted in recent months, so too have questions as to whether the former president may be a flight risk as time moves on.
These are certainly unusual times. In 234 years of the nation’s history no sitting or former American president has been indicted. That all changed this year, when in March 2023 former president Trump was formally charged on 34 felony counts with respect to hush money payments made to a porn star.
In the months that followed, a second indictment in connection with claims of mishandling classified documents and impeding investigation was served. Two further investigations are underway with respect to potential interference in the Georgia state election, and Trump’s role in the capital insurrection on January 6, 2021.
Back in August 2022 when the FBI raided Mar-A-Lago, Trump claimed in a Truth social post that the FBI had seized three of his passports. Without any further explanation, this naturally led to the speculation that it was due to the former president being considered as a flight risk.
What exactly is a flight risk?
Whilst the meaning of the term is rather self-explanatory, perhaps we should delve into the legal meaning of the term flight risk, as this has now become part of the court assessment with formal charges having now been laid against Trump.
According to the US legal definition, ‘flight risk’ is a term that is used by a court to describe a person or defendant who is likely to flee the country/state/area to avoid criminal prosecution.
Courts consider the flight risk factor while deciding whether or not to grant bond to a defendant. This factor is considered while deciding the bond amount also. Courts have the discretion to set higher bail amount for flight risks.
So, as investigations and formal indictments mount, could former president Donald Trump will be considered as a potential flight risk? Well no, at least not according to the courts.
General procedure often calls for the defendant in a criminal case to relinquish their passport prior to being released after charges. In this case, Trump retained access to his own private Boeing 757 airplane and is able to leave the country at will.
Trump Force One
For the aviation buffs, perhaps it is worth giving some details of one potential getaway vehicle here. Donald Trump’s Boeing 757 is a customized aircraft that he has used for both personal and business travel. It is nicknamed “Trump Force One”.
Originally purchased by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 1995, Trump bought it from Allen in 2011 for a reported $100 million.
The airplane is a Boeing 757-200, which is a mid-size airliner that can seat up to 228 passengers. However, Trump’s plane has been customized to seat only 43 passengers. It features a luxurious interior with gold-plated seatbelts, a bedroom, a dining room, and a conference room.
The aircraft also has a number of security features, including bulletproof windows and a missile defense system. Trump used the Boeing 757 extensively during his presidential campaign and presidency. He would often fly to his rallies and other events on the plane.
After leaving office, Trump continued to use the plane for personal and business travel. However, it was grounded in 2019 for maintenance and repairs. It was not until late 2021 that the airplane was returned to service. The plane is currently registered to Trump’s company, The Trump Organization.
The Argument for Flight
Those who speculate that the former president may take the option of flight suggest there are a number of factors that could lead to Trump fleeing the country. First, he is a wealthy man with access to private jets and other means of transportation. He could easily leave the country if he wanted to.
Second, Trump has close ties to foreign leaders, some of whom might be willing to harbor him if he fled the country.
Third, Trump has a history of making threats to flee the country if he is ever indicted. In 2016, he said that he would leave the country if he lost the election. But then of course we have learned that the Trumpian style relies heavily on bluster and hyperbole.
In addition to these factors, Trump’s current status could make him more likely to flee the country. As a private citizen, he is not protected by the same legal privileges as a sitting president. This means that he could be arrested and extradited to the United States if he fled the country.
Fight or flight?
However, there are also some factors that could make it less likely that Trump would flee the country. First, it may simply come down to personal characteristics of ego and narcissism – the act of fleeing the country is a sign of defeat in the matter what level of spin you put on.
Second, there is the concern of the legal consequences of fleeing the country; though one might rightly argue that such consequences were clearly not that much of a concern given the current shambolic state of legal affairs!
Legal Implications of Fleeing the Country
If Donald Trump were to flee the country, he would be subject to a number of legal consequences. First, he could be charged with a crime, such as obstruction of justice or contempt of court. Second, he could be extradited to the United States to face the charges against him.
One would logically seek in where extradition becomes difficult. The extradition process can be complex and time-consuming, but it is ultimately up to the country where Trump is located to decide whether to extradite him. If the country refuses to extradite Trump, he could be held in custody indefinitely.
The consequences of fleeing the country would be significant for Trump personally and politically. He would be seen as a fugitive from justice, and his reputation would be further damaged. He would also be unable to run for office again, which makes the exercise rather self-defeating. Although if the lead up to the 2024 election does not go as planned, perhaps fleeing the nation may be the option of last choice!
Political Implications
If Donald Trump were to flee the country, it would have a significant impact on American politics. His supporters would be outraged, and it could lead to further division in the country. It would also be a major victory for his opponents, who would be able to claim that he was guilty of wrongdoing.
The implications of Trump fleeing the country would be far-reaching. It would be a major test of the American legal system, and it would have a profound impact on American politics. That being said, perhaps we’re through the looking glass already, given the fact that Trump has bucked a 234 year legacy, with more turmoil looming on the horizon.