Twitter CEO Elon Musk announced Tuesday that the company’s attorney, Jim Baker has been “exited” from Twitter following recent revelations that he played a key role in censorship on the platform.
Baker, the former FBI deputy counsel was hired by Twitter following a stint at the FBI which lead him to essentially be fired from the federal agency.
“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 wrote on Twitter.
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
Musk further noted that Baker’s explanation of his actions was “unconvincing”
Yes. His explanation was …unconvincing.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 6, 2022
In the initial version of the Twitter Files, independent journalist Matt Taibbi reported that “Twitter took extraordinary steps to suppress the [Hunter Biden laptop] story, removing links and posting warnings that it may be ‘unsafe.’ They even blocked its transmission via direct message, a tool hitherto reserved for extreme cases, e.g. child pornography.
“White House spokeswoman Kaleigh McEnany was locked out of her account for tweeting about the story, prompting a furious letter from Trump campaign staffer Mike Hahn, who seethed: ‘At least pretend to care for the next 20 days.
19. White House spokeswoman Kaleigh McEnany was locked out of her account for tweeting about the story, prompting a furious letter from Trump campaign staffer Mike Hahn, who seethed: “At least pretend to care for the next 20 days.” pic.twitter.com/CcXTfsdzCT
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 3, 2022
In the weeks leading to the 2020 presidential elections, Taibbi reports that the former Vice President of Global Comms at Twitter, Brandon Borrman was concerned if the Hunter Biden laptop story could be “truthfully” censored as part of Twitter’s policies.
“To which former Deputy General Counsel Jim Baker again seems to advise staying the non-course, because ‘caution is warranted’,” Taibbi explained.
28. To which former Deputy General Counsel Jim Baker again seems to advise staying the non-course, because “caution is warranted”: pic.twitter.com/tg4D0gLWI6
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 3, 2022
Following the announcement of Baker’s firing, Taibbi announced that there are more Twitter Files that would be published over the weekend because of a delay.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
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
“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,” Taibbi continued.
“My jaw hit the floor,” says Weiss.
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 6, 2022
Twitter’s initial explanation for censoring the New York Post reporting on Hunter Biden’s abandoned laptop was that Post reporter Emma Jo Morris obtained the data by “hacking” which was not true. Citing the same reasons, the company also blocked The New York Post’s Twitter account. Leading publications like NPR, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, never defended the New York Post and instead discredited their reporting.
Only after the 2020 election, when Joe Biden was named the next president, did American news publications begin admitting that the Post reporting was legit, effectively influencing a presidential election. Polls released after the election revealed that many Americans would have not voted for then-candidate Biden if they had knowledge about the contents of the Hunter Biden laptop.
Just hours before Musk announced Baker’s firing, Ohio Republican congressman, and the likely chairman of the next House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jim Jordan speculated about Baker’s role on Twitter.
“FBI Agent Timothy Thibault tried to shut down an avenue of the Hunter Biden investigation,” he wrote on Twitter. “Then, Twitter hires former FBI General Counsel James Baker who helps give the company an excuse to suppress the story, Coordination? ” he added.
FBI Agent Timothy Thibault tried to shut down an avenue of the Hunter Biden investigation.
Then, Twitter hires former FBI General Counsel James Baker who helps give the company an excuse to suppress the story.
Coordination?
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) December 6, 2022
House Republicans on Tuesday sent a letter to Baker asking him to testify to the House Oversight Committee when GOP takes the majority in January. The letter mentions that the Republicans in the committee are investigating “President Biden’s involvement in his family’s foreign business practices and international influence peddling schemes”
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