Steve Baker, an investigative reporter for Blaze Media, is calling for a federal motion to delay all proceedings in the looming January 6 criminal trial, citing the Justice Department's suspension of prosecution of President-elect Donald J. Trump. A petition for lateness was filed in the district court.
Baker's lead defense attorney, whose trial is scheduled for Nov. 12, told U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, “In the interest of justice, all dates and hearings in this case should be vacated and this matter asked to set up a status conference regarding the week of February 2, 2025. ”
William Shipley cited the Department of Justice's complaint. In light of the Nov. 5 election, criminal proceedings against the president-elect have been temporarily suspended “to give the government time to assess this unprecedented situation and determine the appropriate path forward in line with the Department of Justice.” Stop.
“The 'people' on whose behalf the government speaks made their voices loud and clear on November 5th.”
“The unique circumstances that now come before this court, where the president-elect made this issue part of his campaign promise and then promised to reverse the previous administration's decision-making, and the Department of Justice is now on the record. Baker's separate lawsuit that the election results are a change in circumstances justifying a postponement justifies Baker in bringing this motion,'' Shipley filed late Nov. 10. stated in the complaint filed.
Baker, 64, of Raleigh, North Carolina, is charged with four misdemeanor counts related to trespassing for being at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. He was in Washington to document the historic protests and provide coverage to readers of his blog, Pragmatic. Constitutionalist. Baker, now a writer for Blaze Media, was arrested in Dallas on March 1 and strutted in front of the media at the FBI office.
Baker had planned a selective prosecution defense, pointing to the failure of center-left media reporters and podcasters to be prosecuted for their coverage of the Jan. 6 protests and riots. Armed with a list of more than 75 journalists who were not indicted, Baker asked for discovery to explain the apparent political slant in the government's prosecution.
Blaze Media investigative reporter Steve Baker struts in front of the media at the FBI office in Dallas on March 1, 2024.Photo credit: Blaze Media
“Rejecting this motion contrary to the Department of Justice's official position would be contrary to the interests of justice and would likely result in the defendant being convicted for purposes other than convenience,” Shipley wrote.
Baker said the list itself largely supports his selective prosecution strategy.
“The most important legal argument we are raising is that credentialed employees of mainstream news organizations, from the New York Times to the Los Angeles Times to French media to British television, 80 journalists of all types But somewhere along the line, they went bankrupt.'' Baker said on October 29, “That day, they broke windows and doors without permission.'' The group included unlicensed freelancers, independents, bloggers, podcasters, and social media Influencers were also included.”
President Trump's landslide victory election victory Shipley argued that the fact that the Electoral College vote was 312 and the popular vote difference was 3.6 million votes creates a new reality that the court should not ignore.
Blaze Media journalist Steve Baker captured the iconic video footage on January 6, 2021, in the West Square of the Capitol.Steve Baker/Blaze Media
“Before the government claims that 'the people' have an interest in the administration of justice as reflected in the Speedy Trial Act, Baker argues that it is 'the people' that the government is speaking on behalf of. I would point that out,” Shipley said. “The fact that we made our views clear on November 5th should mean something to the Department of Justice, regardless of which administration is currently in charge,” he wrote.
In a nine-page opinion issued Oct. 25, Cooper rejected Baker's motion to dismiss the charges. He had previously denied Baker's request to retain his right to bear arms after receiving threats against Baker's safety. Baker appealed the issue, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled against him.
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