OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Twitter CEO Elon Musk revealed on Tuesday that Twitter’s former Deputy General Counsel James Baker was “exited” from the company after revelations about his alleged role in the platform’s handling of the Hunter Biden laptop story.
Over the weekend, journalist Matt Taibbi published internal communications from Twitter’s top brass in October 2020 about how to combat the New York Post’s publication of materials about Hunter Biden’s laptop.
“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 tweeted in response to Taibbi, who shared a story from famed legal scholar Jonathan Turley.
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
Twitter’s internal communications at the time show that Baker was involved in discussions about whether the laptop falls under Twitter’s “hacked materials” policy.
“I support the conclusion that we need more facts to assess whether the materials were hacked,” Baker wrote in one email chain. “At this stage, however, it’s reasonable for us to assume that they may have been and that caution is warranted.”
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
Here’s more on Baker’s background, as noted by Fox Business:
Before joining Twitter, Baker also worked as general counsel at the FBI, where he was a key figure in the bureau’s investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Attorney Michael Sussmann met with Baker in 2016 and presented “purported data and ‘white papers’ that allegedly demonstrated a covert communicates channel” between the Trump Organization and Alfa Bank, which is based in Russia. Sussmann was accused of telling Baker that he was not doing work “for any client” but later billing the Hillary Clinton campaign for the work. Sussmann was acquitted earlier this year on one count of making a false statement to the FBI.
Baker was also personally involved in the FISA warrant application to surveil Carter Page, who was working as an aide to former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. The application relied heavily on the discredited “Trump dossier.” Baker later admitted that his role in the Page FISA application was unusual.
Musk made headlines recently when he revealed that he won’t “ever again” sign autographs in public because of threats to his life. During a live session on the social media website, Musk was discussing the “Twitter Files” and made a concerning admission that he was concerned about his safety.
“Frankly the risk of something bad happening or literally even being shot is quite significant. I’m definitely not going to be doing any open-air car parades, let me put it that way,” Musk said. “It’s not that hard to kill me if somebody wanted to, so hopefully they don’t.”
Over the weekend, Musk told reporters outside Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., that he also would never sign autographs again as a way to protect himself from any potential threats.
“I’ve made it clear,” Musk told the group. “I’m not doing any more — any more signings, ever again.”
“After tonight?” someone in the group shouted as Musk responded, “No!” before ducking into a Tesla with his security detail in tow.
WATCH:
Musk went viral this week after he went directly at President Joe Biden.
The Biden administration is marching forward with plans to build a network of publicly funded charging stations for electric vehicles. Musk, the CEO of Tesla, reminded Biden that his company has been at the forefront of that fight.
Biden took to Twitter to boast about what he claims his administration has been planning, writing: “We’re building 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations across the country. The great American road trip will be fully electrified.”
Musk, whose Tesla charging network is already completed, immediately fired back at Biden: “Or you can just buy a Tesla.”
Or you can just buy a Tesla
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 4, 2022
While the Biden administration is talking about what they want to accomplish, Musk has already been there and done that.
Tesla currently has the largest network of chargers in North America and has recently tried to encourage other makers of electric vehicles to make their vehicles compatible with Musk’s Tesla network.
