SHACKLED FOR ALLEGED MISDEMEANORS: IS THIS THE DEATH OF THE FREE PRESS?
Investigative reporter Steve Baker was arrested for his reporting on January 6.
If you hurt the Biden regime’s feelings as a journalist, they will have you arrested. That’s the message being sent by Joe Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ).
I witnessed this firsthand after they launched a brazen attacks on the Free Press last week. It happened after I flew into Dallas, Texas to witness Blaze investigative reporter Steve Baker turning himself into the corrupt Department of Justice. Baker was forced to surrender after the DOJ stacked four misdemeanors against him.
Shackled, Baker was escorted into a federal courtroom by the U.S. Marshals and faced Judge Scott Everett for his reporting on January 6. The Blaze reporter walked into court with leg irons on and yellow handcuffs gripped around his wrists. He was one of four defendants shackled. It was slightly after 10am CT when Baker's name was called, and he appeared in front of Judge Everett. Baker stood to the left of his lawyers Ed Tarpley and James Lee Bright. Judge Everett then went on to inform Baker that the DOJ was accusing him of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. Baker is now facing 6-12 months in federal prison, if convicted on all four counts.
As a journalist, it was difficult witnessing Baker in leg irons and yellow handcuffs. Mainly because his reporting has been so instrumental when it comes to debunking the DOJ's "insurrection" narrative.
U.S. Marshals openly stated that what Baker was enduring was, "bullsh*t." They agreed this was not a normal circumstance that any of them have ever seen.
FBI whistleblower and The Center for Renewing America fellow, Steve Friend, also echoed those same concerns. The former FBI agent told me, “Having arrested hundreds of violent criminals, I can confidently say I never witnessed a nonviolent, fully cooperative misdemeanor arrestee treated like Steve Baker. The federal government is wholly committed to making the process the punishment. Every individual associated with Steve's persecution is a "Good German" doing the bidding of a weaponized government."
Another FBI whistleblower I spoke to, George Hill, reminded us of this, "If Steve Baker wasn’t a public figure, he would have gotten the Craig Robertson treatment. He’s a major threat." Craig Robertson was killed by the FBI last August while they were executing a warrant on his home. Robertson was accused of threatening President Joe Biden on social media. Threats like these are normally handled by the Secret Service, not the FBI. The FBI has failed to turn over several documents I've requested on this shooting through several FOIA requests I've made. Many experts believe the FBI intentionally escalated that incident in order to boost their domestic terrorist statistics.
The egregious behavior the DOJ has displaced since launching its prosecutorial attacks on J6 defendants hasn't been challenged by the corporate media. The corporate media hacks even ignored what their fellow journalist was forced to endure. In fact, the intel community’s favorite mouthpiece, NBC propagandist Ryan Reilly, refused to refer to Baker as a journalist in his write up on Baker's arrest. Reilly often sat in the same high-profiled January 6 cases with Baker. While Baker decided to investigate the perjury that allegedly took place during the Oath Keepers trial, Reilly looked the other way. Reilly cheerleads for the DOJ publicly, but often tells others he disagrees with what's taking place to these Americans. Reilly is everything that is wrong with the corporate media world. He's a chubby, corporate media hack who drifts around Washington D.C. without a soul.
But Reilly isn't alone. The entire corporate media looked the other way as the DOJ put a journalist in handcuffs for his reporting. These are the same people pretending to be brave when criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin for targeting his opposition. The reality is, Putin would have been drooling if he witnessed what I witnessed in that courtroom on Friday.
THEIR “STATEMENT OF FACTS”:
According to the Statement of Facts turned in by FBI SpEcIaL Agent Craig Noyes, "On January 7, 2021, the FBI received an anonymous tip from the public providing a link to a YouTube video, and identifying the individuals depicted therein. One of the individuals was identified as STEPHEN MICHAEL BAKER. The tipster further advised that in the video, the individuals had made statements indicating they had participated in the events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. On or about January 12, 2021, a second tipster contacted the FBI to report a post by a Facebook user identified as “The Pragmatic Constitutionalist” on January 6, 2021, wherein the account owner claimed to have been at the Capitol building that day."
In the report SpEcIaL Agent Noyes cites, a video where Baker is reporting on what he witnessed on January 6. Amazingly enough, SpEcIaL agent Noyes does all of this while refusing to refer to Baker by his job title--journalist. Noyes even included an appearance Baker made on a local news station where he details what he witnessed on January 6. In addition to that, the screenshots included by SpEcIaL Agent Noyes back Baker's claims that he was working that day as a reporter.
The 13-page “Statement of Facts” highlights the weak case SpEcIaL Agent Noyes has put together. SpEcIal Agent Noyes thinks Baker should be charged over the things he allegedly said while covering January 6. The DOJ is prosecuting Baker for what he said while filming that day. Nothing more. SpEcIal Agent Noyes and the DOJ aren’t fans of the First Amendment and these charges are proof of that.
FBI whistleblower Garret O'Boyle called out the egregious behavior by saying, “Craig Noyes, and all DOJ personnel involved, have become the tyrants they swore to defend America against. History has shown us time and time again that the collective actions of "ordinary people just following orders" are how evil empires succeed. You are directly contributing to the destruction of the First Amendment and lawfare on behalf of the regime. Fidelity. Bravery. Integrity. Those words describe Steve Baker; not the oath breakers at the fbi.”
In court, the DOJ was asked to turn over a list of witnesses to Baker's legal team. The DOJ openly admitted they didn't have a list. Proving they rushed while pushing this case through.
So why? Why did the DOJ rush to get Baker in leg irons? Probably due to his reporting he intends on releasing shortly.
Baker is by far one of the most highly respected journalists covering January 6. In fact, Baker is the only January 6 defendant sparking congressional interest in the charges he was recently slapped with. The outrage over what's taking place with Baker will be a complete game changer for the Marxists working within the Department of Justice.
It's notable highlighting the fact that The Blaze is backing Baker 100%. The Blaze isn't shying away. Every member of The Blaze I've spoken with is proud of Baker. They are rallying behind Baker and that's critical during times like these. I've witnessed one J6 journalist, JD Rivera, get abandoned by his pending employer over the DOJ's witch-hunt.
It's rally time, America. We need to rally behind Baker by supporting his reporting. How can you do so? Share his work. Share this story. Don't stop speaking up. We are facing the greatest fight our country has ever faced. We can win this without becoming violent, we just need all your support.
Remember, your silence isn't buying you immunity, it’s just buying you time.
MY INTERVIEW WITH STEVE BAKER JUST MOMENTS AFTER HE WAS RELEASED:
Unfortunately the left all claps with glee when an "insurrectionist" is shackled, and anyone on the right with the power to make a stink over this does nothing. If the left successfully cheats to win another election things are going to get considerably worse. I'd imagine anyone not registered as a democrat will then be open to scrutiny and harassment.
Where are the Republicans in Congress?
Oh, wait, I forgot. They are the Uniparty.