 He introduced several laws (the "leges Clodiae") that made him very popular with the people, strengthening his power base, then he turned on Cicero by threatening exile to anyone who executed a Roman citizen without a trial.Cicero, having executed members of the Catiline conspiracy four years previously without formal trial, was clearly the intended target.Furthermore, many believed that Clodius acted in concert with the triumvirate who feared that Cicero would seek to abolish many of Caesar's accomplishments while consul the year before.