The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently detained Blaze Media investigative journalist Steve Baker for “non-violent misdemeanors” involving his reporting of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol protests.
The Blaze posted a video on social media showing Baker arrested by law enforcement, writing, “Blaze Media Investigative Journalist [Steve Baker] has now been taken into FBI custody for his J6 reporting.”
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
Baker’s arrest comes after he announced that he and his legal team were notified by the FBI of a signed warrant for his arrest. The investigative journalist was ordered to surrender to federal authorities for his “alleged J6 crimes.”
🚨BREAKING🧵- This time, it’s really happening.
Unlike the two previous threats my attorneys received from @FBI / @thejusticedept (Nov. 21 and Dec. 23), my self-surrender for alleged J6 crimes is set for this Friday morning in Dallas, TX. There is now a signed arrest warrant.⬇️
— Steve Baker – TPC (@TPC4USA) February 28, 2024
Baker said he was required to turn himself in to the FBI in Texas and would soon be transported to a courthouse.
“My attorneys have also been assured by the gov. that this will be an ‘in and out’ affair and that they have ‘no intention’ of detaining me. But, rather than issuing a simple order to appear, they seem to feel the need to give me a dose of the personal humiliation treatment,” Baker wrote.
“We do not yet know the specific charges. Technically … they are still ‘under seal’ until the warrant is served. All else is as yet unknown. By the weekend, I will officially be a misdemeanor domestic journo-terrorist (Something like that.) And so it begins,” he added.
My attorneys have also been assured by the gov. that this will be an ‘in and out’ affair and that they have “no intention” of detaining me. But, rather than issuing a simple order to appear, they seem to feel the need to give me a dose of the personal humiliation treatment. ⬇️
— Steve Baker – TPC (@TPC4USA) February 28, 2024
In January 2024, Baker’s attorneys informed the Blaze that the weaponized Department of Justice (DOJ) sought to retaliate against the investigative journalist for writing two “greatly embarrassing” stories about the department.
Baker pointed out that although he’s “not a depressive person,” he certainly isn’t fond of the DOJ’s retaliatory campaign against him.
“I’m not a depressive person, but I’m not happy about this,” he said. “I have prayed, ‘Lord, let this cup pass from me,’ but apparently it’s not going to.”
Baker’s detainment is the latest in a series of arrests of other journalists who have reported on Jan. 6, such as David Media and Owen Shroyer.
In September 2023, Shroyer was sentenced to 60 days in jail for his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 protests. Medina was recently arrested by federal authorities in Portland, Oregon.
