JUST IN: Blaze Media Investigative Journalist Steve Baker (@TPC4USA) has been taken into FBI custody, allegedly for his J6 reporting.The FBI has arrested Blaze News investigative journalist Steve Baker over his January 6 reporting.
Baker has been charged with "knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority," "disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds," "disorderly conduct in a Capitol building," and "parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building."
Baker previously said he didn’t know what the charges were against him but was told they were non-violent misdemeanors.
“The prosecutor informed… pic.twitter.com/RZ3yRzmQMn
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 1, 2024
The reporter told The Blaze that he was ordered to self-surrender while wearing shorts and sandals. He said that the specific attire demand signals that the plan likely is to go for "humiliation" and place him in an orange jumpsuit, handcuff him, and do the "prisoner transport routine." The prosecutor informed my attorney that I am to arrive at the @FBI field office wearing “shorts and sandals.” They didn’t have to go this route, as we've been told that my charges are non-violent misdemeanors.⬇️
— Steve Baker - TPC (@TPC4USA) February 28, 2024
"They didn’t have to go this route," Baker told Blaze News. "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 was not made aware of what charges he was facing before turning himself in. His attorney, James Lee Bright, told The Blaze that keeping this secret from the defendant is a "really unusual" move. BREAKING: @BlazeTV’s investigate journalist Steve Baker has been charged with 4 misdemeanors.
Baker is being prosecuted over his coverage of January 6.
This is an awful day for journalism.
Pray for @TPC4USA as he’s getting ready for his first appearance in court. pic.twitter.com/cobIMLN606
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) March 1, 2024
"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 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."
Blaze Media editor-in-chief Matthew Peterson said in a statement that "the federal government's treatment of Steve Baker is outrageous." 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
"He's had unknown charges hanging over his head for years, but after we started working with him the government sprang back into action. There is no need to put him in a jumpsuit or handcuffs except as a humiliation ritual or a show, which seems to be exactly what they are planning on doing on Friday," Peterson continued.We will be showing the world footage from January 6 that shows Steve was clearly present that day as an independent journalist. Government retaliation such as this against journalists contradicts the very idea of a free press, the purpose of our form of government, and what once was the American way of life.
Peterson concluded, "This should not be happening in America."
