(Congress Report) – Elon Musk is proving to be one of the most important figures in the battle for free speech in our modern times, which I did not have marked on my 2022 Bingo card, but hey, they say truth is stranger than fiction, right? Well, the good news is Musk is continuing to push forward in his fight to preserve free speech by giving the company’s deputy general counsel, James Baker, the boot for allegedly suppressing internal documents concerning the censorship of the New York Post’s expose on Hunter Biden’s laptop.
“In light of concerns about Baker’s possible role in suppression of information important to the public dialogue, he was exited from Twitter today,” Musk posted on the social media platform Tuesday, according to the NY Post.
Writer Victoria Nava then said, “Musk added that he questioned Baker before his firing about the events surrounding the laptop suppression scandal and that the lawyer’s explanation was ‘unconvincing.'”
Baker, who once served as a top attorney for the FBI, was found to be secretly vetting internal Twitter documents before they could be reviewed by journalists, which led to a delay in the release of additional material related to the censorship scandal the company was involved with.
In light of concerns about Baker’s possible role in suppression of information important to the public dialogue, he was exited from Twitter today
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 6, 2022
“On Friday, the first installment of the Twitter files was published here. We expected to publish more over the weekend. Many wondered why there was a delay,” independent journalist Matt Taibbi said on Tuesday.
On Friday, the first installment of the Twitter files was published here. We expected to publish more over the weekend. Many wondered why there was a delay.
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 6, 2022
“We can now tell you part of the reason why. On Tuesday, Twitter Deputy General Counsel (and former FBI General Counsel) Jim Baker was fired. Among the reasons? Vetting the first batch of ‘Twitter Files’ — without knowledge of new management,” Taibbi continued.
We can now tell you part of the reason why. On Tuesday, Twitter Deputy General Counsel (and former FBI General Counsel) Jim Baker was fired. Among the reasons? Vetting the first batch of “Twitter Files” – without knowledge of new management.
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 6, 2022
Taibbi then revealed that former Wall Street Journal and New York Times writer Bari Weiss also played a part in reviewing these internal documents, and it was she who happened to uncover Baker’s involvement in the mess, which Musk was previously unaware of.
“The process for producing the ‘Twitter Files’ involved delivery to two journalists (Bari Weiss and me) via a lawyer close to new management. However, after the initial batch, things became complicated,” Taibbi stated.
The process for producing the “Twitter Files” involved delivery to two journalists (Bari Weiss and me) via a lawyer close to new management. However, after the initial batch, things became complicated.
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 6, 2022
He continued on, saying that Weiss found “that the person in charge of releasing the files was someone named Jim.”
“When she called to ask ‘Jim’s’ last name, the answer came back: ‘Jim Baker,'” Taibbi’s tweet read.“ ‘My jaw hit the floor,’ says Weiss.”
Over the weekend, while we both dealt with obstacles to new searches, it was @BariWeiss who discovered that the person in charge of releasing the files was someone named Jim. When she called to ask “Jim’s” last name, the answer came back: “Jim Baker.”
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 6, 2022
“My jaw hit the floor,” says Weiss.
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 6, 2022
Taibbi noted the first batch of files that both journalists received were marked “Spectra Baker Emails.”
The first batch of files both reporters received was marked, “Spectra Baker Emails.” pic.twitter.com/24a9NhjosB
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 6, 2022
Taibbi referred to Baker as “a controversial figure.”
“He has been something of a Zelig of FBI controversies dating back to 2016, from the Steele Dossier to the Alfa-Server mess. He resigned in 2018 after an investigation into leaks to the press,” he added.
Baker is a controversial figure. He has been something of a Zelig of FBI controversies dating back to 2016, from the Steele Dossier to the Alfa-Server mess. He resigned in 2018 after an investigation into leaks to the press.
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 6, 2022
“The news that Baker was reviewing the ‘Twitter files’ surprised everyone involved, to say the least. New Twitter chief Elon Musk acted quickly to ‘exit’ Baker Tuesday.”
The news that Baker was reviewing the “Twitter files” surprised everyone involved, to say the least. New Twitter chief Elon Musk acted quickly to “exit” Baker Tuesday.
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 6, 2022
Baker previously served as the general counsel for the FBI when James Comey, a disgraced figure himself, was the director of the bureau and a key individual in the agency’s investigation into false claims of collusion between former President Donald Trump and Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign.
The lawyer also worked closely with extreme anti-Trump FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page. After he left the agency in 2018, Baker was under criminal investigation for potentially leaking materials to the press. Baker has repeatedly stood by his conduct while at the FBI and with his involvement in the Russia probe.
“This summer, Baker also was a star witness for special counsel John Durham in his case against former Hillary Clinton lawyer Michael Sussmann, who was found not guilty in May of lying to the FBI,” Nava wrote. “In addition, Baker has been linked to Mother Jones reporter David Corn, who broke the news of the existence of the Steele dossier, compiled by British ex-spy Christopher Steele and loaded with unproven claims about Trump.”
Baker allegedly kept in communication with Corn during the weeks leading up to the 2016 presidential election, just before Corn reported on the existence of the Steele Dossier on Oct. 31, 2016.
So how did this guy end up at Twitter?
“Twitter tapped Baker to help lead its legal team in June 2020, a month after the social media company generated controversy for labeling two Trump tweets claiming that mail-in ballots will lead to a ‘rigged election’ as promoting misinformation,” Nava concluded her report.
Copyright 2022. CongressReport.com
It is a shame it took catching Baker with his hand in the cookie jar before he was shown the door. He was a key player in the whole “get Trump no matter what” effort. Makes one wonder what damage has already been done. I’d go looking for evidence of deleted records.