(American Greatness) — Blaze News investigative journalist Steve Baker was forced to turn himself in to the FBI field office in Dallas Friday morning over misdemeanor charges related to his January 6 reporting. The reporter was taken into custody, handcuffed and perp-walked to the car that transported him to the Dallas courthouse for a 10 a.m. hearing before the magistrate.
He was charged with “entering restricted grounds,” “disorderly conduct,” and “parading and picketing in the Capitol.”
Journalist Steve Baker (@TPC4USA) has just arrived at the FBI field office in Dallas and has turned himself in.
The charges against him are still unknown. pic.twitter.com/O7wgUEbh8O
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) March 1, 2024
The charges against Baker come after the dogged journalist broke major stories involving U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn and Capitol Police Special Agent David Lazarus.
“Steve’s actions on January 6 have been known to the Department of Justice for 3 years,” Baker’s attorneys said in a January press release. “But it is only now — after Steve has broken two major stories greatly embarrassing to the DOJ — that he is possibly being targeted for arrest and possibly felony prosecution. Any action taken to put him in handcuffs, hold him in custody, and have him transported to court by federal law enforcement will be nothing other than retaliation for his recent reporting.”
A federal prosecutor had reportedly informed Baker’s attorney last week that he was to arrive at the field office wearing “shorts and sandals.” Baker told Blaze Media that meant the feds were planning to take the “humiliation” route by placing him in an orange jumpsuit, handcuffing him, and doing the “prisoner transport routine.”
“They didn’t have to go this route,” Baker told Blaze News last week. “We have been told that my charges are only misdemeanors. And my attorneys have been assured that this will be an ‘in and out’ affair with ‘no intention’ to detain me. But rather than issuing a simple order to appear, they went the ‘arrest warrant’ route.”
Baker said the charges against him were kept secret from him and his lawyer because the feds believed he would post them on social media. Baker’s Dallas attorney, James Lee Bright, told Blaze News that withholding the nature of the charges against his client is a “really unusual” move.
“I’m going to pray, and then I’m going to put on my suit and tie and walk in with my head up,” he said.
.@TPC4USA was told by federal authorities to wear "shorts and sandals" when he turns himself into the FBI tomorrow morning. Instead of abiding by the humiliation process he tells me: "I'm going to pray, and then I'm going to put on my suit and tie and walk in with my head up." pic.twitter.com/uokMFqVxkc
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) February 29, 2024
Baker turned himself in at 7 a.m. wearing his suit and tie.
Blaze Media Investigative Journalist @TPC4USA has now been taken into FBI custody for his J6 reporting
Watch: pic.twitter.com/OF9WVh26ER
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) March 1, 2024
This is my client, an American journalist @TPC4USA from @theblaze being arrested by the FBI for his coverage of J6. Research his works. He is uncovering many uncomfortable truths. pic.twitter.com/qt1oB3yUFZ
— James Lee Bright Law (@JLBrightLaw) March 1, 2024
The case was assigned to Judge Michael Harvey in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
“HE WAS DOING HIS JOB AS A JOURNALIST,” wrote Blaze colleague Sarah Gonzalez on X.
Former FBI agent/whistleblower Steve Friend blasted the FBI case agent Craig Noyes.
“Noyes will drive to his 3600 square foot home valued at roughly $800k in Raleigh, NC.,” Friend wrote on X. “He ‘just followed orders’ like a good German and facilitated this miscarriage of justice. He is a disgrace who deserves to lose everything,” said Friend, who was suspended from the FBI for refusing to participate in unconstitutional raids against J6ers.
“The FBI’s Craig Noyes is a stain on our Constitutional Oath,” added former FBI agent/whistleblower Garrett O’Boyle. “Is this really why the government pays Craig $135,000 a year?”
The @fbi's Craig Noyes is a stain on our Constitutional Oath. Is this really why the government pays Craig $135,000 a year? "Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press." Yet that's exactly what they are using these laws for against @TPC4USA https://t.co/BCnFNoLMYw pic.twitter.com/XU8dishvwC
— Garret O'Boyle (@GOBactual) March 1, 2024
Baker told Blaze News that he expected to be released after the proceedings as there was no request to the court for detention.
“We do not know if there will be pretrial travel restrictions, although that has been the norm for J6 defendants — even for misdemeanor defendants,” Baker also said. “It has also been universal that no J6ers are allowed to travel to Washington, D.C., which for obvious reasons will have a deleterious impact on my work. We also do not know if there will be any other accompanying restrictions or orders: gag order from talking about my case, no social media, limited social media, order to surrender devices and/or firearms. All unknowns.”
Bright said that he was “disturbed” about how his client was being treated, especially since Baker had been “in full compliance” all this time. Bright also told Blaze Media that the feds’ “three-plus years later going after people who were legitimate functioning journalists that day” appeared designed to have an “absolute chilling effect.”
Out of the many journalists covering the events at the Capitol that day, only conservative reporters have been targeted by the feds.
“I’m not a depressive person, but I’m not happy about this,” Baker added to Blaze News. “I have prayed, ‘Lord, let this cup pass from me,’ but apparently it’s not going to.” However, he also said it would be a “relief” to get the first of his persecution over with.
Debra Heine
Debra Heine is a conservative Catholic mom of six and longtime political pundit. She has written for several conservative news websites over the years, including Breitbart and PJ Media.
