Former FBI general counsel Jim Baker believes that the sum of the actions recorded in the special counsel’s report represents a "pattern of corruption." While the individual incidents may not rise to the level of illegality, the whole is definitely greater than the sum of its parts—or worse.
Attorney Jim Baker joined the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice in 1990 during the first Bush administration, and over the next 29 years served as deputy counsel for intelligence operations, acting counsel, and general counsel. Baker came under attack during the first year under Trump and was investigated as a potential source of leaks from the FBI. That investigation ended without any finding against Baker, but in 2018 incoming FBI Director Christopher Wray pushed him out of the general counsel role, and Baker resigned. Since then, Baker has been among those that Trump and surrogates have named as “bad cops” at the FBI, mostly because he was present when Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein suggested wearing a wire to record Trump and testified that it did not sound like Rosenstein was joking.
According to Politico, Baker conducted a lengthy conversation at the Brookings Institution, during which he stated that he found the Mueller report, and particularly the obstruction information, “troubling.” He pushed back against arguments that the investigation had some sort of shady beginning, saying that it would have been against longstanding FBI policy not to investigate connections between the Trump campaign and Russia, especially after the FBI became aware of the actions of Trump adviser George Papadopoulos. Baker said, "I think it would've been malpractice, dereliction of duty, that it would have even been highly, highly inappropriate for us not to pursue it—and pursue it aggressively."
Baker also bristled at claims by Attorney General William Barr that the FBI “spied on” the Trump campaign, saying, "I honestly don't know what he's referring to.”
Despite his concerns, Baker wrote a post on the blog Lawfare on Friday saying that he “did not hate Donald Trump,” despite the attacks that have come his way.
The president has tweeted and spoken about me personally, uncharitably and by name, on several occasions. Some people who support the president also have said negative things about me publicly. All of that attention impacted me negatively in numerous ways—both personally and professionally—over the past few years.
But Baker says he refuses to hate Trump, and will instead respond to Trump, his surrogates, and all his supporters “with love.”
I recognize that this view will strike some people as naive, even foolish. I know it may sound weak. But the love I am speaking of is not submission, acquiescence, obedience or deference. Love is strong, it is bold, and it can be defiant. Love resists evil, hatred, bigotry, and all other forces that dehumanize, oppress, victimize or degrade others. Love is the opposite of those values. It is the most powerful resistance to those forces. Loving someone does not mean that you approve of or condone his or her words and deeds.
I admit that loving Donald Trump is a challenge for me. But my journey over the past several years has convinced me that I must try.
Jim Baker may be a lot stronger than most people.