Staff Reports
Steve Friend, an ardent critic of the FBI, lamented the arrest of Steve Baker, a correspondent for Blaze News. He compared the agents who authorized the arrest to "good Germans," comparable to those who acquiesced to directives during the dark era of Nazi Germany. When Friend, an experienced bureau veteran of 12 years, refused to participate in a SWAT-style assault on a January 6 suspect who was scheduled to face minor charges in the summer of 2022, he demonstrated his adherence to ethical standards. Suspension resulted from his commitment to protecting the Constitution, but it only strengthened his resolve to denounce what he perceives to be an abuse of authority within the FBI and DOJ.
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Friend did not hold back when he joined Blaze News founder Glenn Beck in discussing Baker's arrest. The individual expressed disapproval of the FBI's strategy of "making the process the punishment," highlighting the inequitable treatment of Baker, who had consented to hand over information regarding misdemeanor charges associated with the breach of the Capitol. Friend criticized the depiction of Baker in shorts and flip-flops while in custody, describing it as a degrading and humiliating strategy. The whistleblower ardently argued that the FBI should not function as a judge, jury, or executioner, but rather adhere to a fair process.
Baker, who was shackled, handcuffed, and forced to walk with the perpetrator while appearing before a judge, caused confusion among Friend and others due to the excessive display of force for trivial misdemeanors. William Shipley, Baker's counsel, expressed the same level of disbelief, emphasizing his extensive legal experience spanning decades, during which FBI arrests and perp walks for misdemeanors were not commonplace until the events that transpired on January 6. Additionally, former FBI agents weighed in, expressing their disbelief at the situation's unprecedented management; one noted that the Department of Justice was exclusively responsible for such actions.
