FBI Fires Suspected Leaker And Comey Ally James Baker | Zero Hedge
Description: ...reports published over the summer said Baker was “the top suspect” in an interagency leak investigation...
Keywords: Zero Hedge,Zerohedge,Finance,Economics,Markets,Politics,Analysis,Apple,B+,Bridgewater,Donald Trump,FBI,national security,Testimony,Uranium,White House
Date: 2017-12-22T00:00:00Z

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# FBI Fires Suspected Leaker And Comey Ally James Baker

by Tyler Durden
Dec 22, 2017 9:31 AM
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Just hours after FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe delivered private testimony to the House Intelligence Committee, his boss, FBI Director Christopher Wray, announced that the bureau’s top lawyer would be leaving his post, an attempt to bring in “new blood” to an agency whose reputation has been hopelessly compromised by revelations that agents’ partisan bias may have influenced two high-profile investigations involving President Donald Trump and his former campaign rival, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

As the Washington Post reported, the FBI’s top lawyer, James Baker, is being reassigned. WaPo says Baker’s removal is part of Wray’s effort to assemble his own team of senior advisers while he tries to defuse allegations of partisanship that have plagued the bureau in recent months.

James Baker

But reports published over the summer said Baker was “the top suspect” in an interagency leak investigation, as we reported back in July

> Three sources, with knowledge of the investigation, told Circa that Baker is the top suspect in an ongoing leak investigation, but Circa has not been able to confirm the details of what national security information or material was allegedly leaked.

> A federal law enforcement official with knowledge of ongoing internal investigations in the bureau told Circa, "the bureau is scouring for leakers and there's been a lot of investigations."

> The revelation comes as the Trump administration has ramped up efforts to contain leaks both within the White House and within its own national security apparatus.

The news of the staff shakeup comes as Trump and his political allies have promised to “rebuild” the FBI to make it “bigger and better than ever” following its “disgraceful” conduct over the Trump probe. Baker played a key role in the agency’s handling of major cases and policy debates in recent years, including the FBI’s unsuccessful battle with Apple over the growing use of encryption in cellphones.

ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos

Wray has, of course, resisted Congress’s push to learn more about senior agent Peter Strzok, who was a key player in both the Clinton investigation and the Trump probe. Strzok was exposed last month for exchanging anti-Trump texts with FBI attorney Lisa Page, with whom he was having an affair. Strzok played important roles with both investigations. Later, it was revealed that his edits to Clinton’s exoneration letter went further than had been previously disclosed.

According to WaPo, Baker told colleagues he will be taking on other duties at the FBI. Unsurprisingly, the Jeff Bezos-owned paper describes Baker as “one of the most trusted, longest-serving national security officials in the US. He has served as the head of the FBI’s Office of General Counsel for several years."

Of course, WaPo says Baker’s reassignment has nothing to do with the leak investigation, which ended without any publicly disclosed findings. It’s also unclear what, exactly, Baker was suspected of leaking.

Baker is reportedly a very close to former FBI director James B. Comey, who asked Baker to be his general counsel. The two men were colleagues at the Justice Department and when they were out of government at Bridgewater Associates, an investment management firm.

It's notable that Baker’s departure comes six months after the leaking scandal, and just days after AG Jeff Sessions reportedly asked DOJ prosecutors to begin asking FBI agents about the details of the Uranium One investigation. A sign that the bureau is finally moving to address concerns expressed by Republican lawmakers about bias that may have favored Clinton.

Baker’s head is the third to roll in the “housecleaning” that saw the FBI sanction Strzok and Bruce Ohr, a senior DOJ official who reportedly concealed his wife’s ties to opposition research firm Fusion GPS – the firm that supervised the creation of the infamous “Trump dossier."

It was also revealed recently that Baker’s name is on a list of DOJ officials who are expected to receive a subpoena to testify before the House Intelligence Committee. Strzok and Ohr’s names are also on that list.

If that’s any indication of what’s to come, we doubt this will be the last time we hear Baker’s name.

- Apple
- White House
- Bridgewater
- Donald Trump
- Testimony
- B+
- FBI
- Uranium
- national security

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Beowulf55 Dec 22, 2017 9:34 AM

SSDD..........and still no Hitlery in orange.

wmbz Beowulf55 Dec 22, 2017 9:37 AM

Sadly that spawn of satan will never see an orange jump suit.

The white trash Cliton clan will always get away with murder.

CuttingEdge wmbz Dec 22, 2017 9:41 AM

Getting a bit tired of this “one of the most trusted, longest-serving et al" shite they troll out for every one of these vermin.

They said Comey was honourable. Turns out he's a duplicious cunt.

Ditto Mueller

Ditto McCabe

Ditto Baker

Ditto Rosenstein

Ditto Ohrr

And so many more...

Just who the fuck in a senior position at the FBI and the DoJ isn't corrupt?

Alt-Right-Girl CuttingEdge Dec 22, 2017 9:53 AM

One sneaky fuck I tell you that.

(((Weasel))) phenotype all the way.

MagicHandPuppet Alt-Right-Girl Dec 22, 2017 9:53 AM

Treason? "You're fired"

Shouldn't it be: "Firing squad" ?

ne-tiger MagicHandPuppet Dec 22, 2017 10:04 AM

Fuck the curry cunt Haley

Joe Davola ne-tiger Dec 22, 2017 10:11 AM

And the DOJ attorney who was in the meetings with Ohr needs to be looked at also. From my post a week ago:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/fashion/weddings/trisha-anderson-charl...

who's husband was on the NSC

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:C0rbx2ui4ZcJ:https...

and as the article states, the husband is going to be working again with a guy who just so happened to be:

Prior to assuming his role in the NSD, Mr. Carlin served as Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel to Robert S. Mueller, III, former

https://www.mofo.com/people/john-carlin.html

Wondering if Newmann's name would be found on some unmasking requests or he's gotten some texts from Strok/Page.

bamawatson Joe Davola Dec 22, 2017 10:14 AM

Been thinking about the many mob bosses murdered by members of their own gang. Hillary effectively, or at least comparatively, has no power now. She is "dead weight", possibly in every way that term can be construed. Not only is she incompetent, ineffective, counter-productive dead weight, but also, she is a seriously liability to her crime syndicate..........

IH8OBAMA bamawatson Dec 22, 2017 10:18 AM

Wray needs to bring me in there to do some house cleaning and get the right investigations going. It wouldn't take me more than a week to get this shit straightened out.

CallzThroat IH8OBAMA Dec 22, 2017 10:29 AM

I'm making over $15k a month working part time. I kept hearing other people tell me how much money they can make online so I decided to look into it. Well, it was all true and has totally changed my life. This is what I do... http://disq.us/url?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.Jobzon3.com%3Ab8eR_DQLwGRPVGtFvv...

overbet MagicHandPuppet Dec 22, 2017 10:09 AM

Not even fired. Transfered

newdoobie overbet Dec 22, 2017 10:40 AM

so he can be retransfered after affair blows over.

Of course every conversation or email he has written is covered under attorney client privilege.

Thats why he was hired by Comey

wmbz CuttingEdge Dec 22, 2017 10:13 AM

Another sick part of all this, each and everyone of these assholes believe they are above all law. Turns out they are.

No serious charges are ever made, once in a while a wrist slap, or transfer inside the dept. The whole damn thing is 100% corrupt!

Giant Meteor wmbz Dec 22, 2017 10:42 AM

Correct ..

johngaltfla wmbz Dec 22, 2017 9:41 AM

IF you trust anyone named James Baker, you know things will end badly as history has proven.

Crazy Or Not johngaltfla Dec 22, 2017 9:44 AM

I've always wondered about the #Caris James on the Epstien paedo tweets /Instagram.

Could it be #Car Is James?

Tsunami Wave johngaltfla Dec 22, 2017 10:12 AM

What the hell is up with these names for the past several months?

Reality Winner?

Ty Cobb?

James Baker?

Bryan Pagliano?

3-word names from shooters, other people

Please place more suspicious names here below.. it's just such an intriguing thing I feel like I'm being F'd around

Joe Davola Tsunami Wave Dec 22, 2017 10:55 AM

Maybe they are all laxbros (from the 2017 all lax names list):

FIRST TEAM
A – Shackleford Stanwick
A – Keyveat Postell
A – Bear Altemus
M – IV Stucker
M – Brickman House
M – Griffin Woodfinlevine
D – Sky Dupree
D – Coy Broderick
D – Braylen Sampson
G – Fitzhugh Lee

Salsa Verde Dec 22, 2017 9:35 AM

Still time to get a shiny new nail-gun before Christmas!

E.F. Mutton Salsa Verde Dec 22, 2017 9:39 AM

He will likely take a bath with the new toaster he gets for Christmas

Tennessee Patriot Dec 22, 2017 9:35 AM

"As the Washington Post reported, the FBI’s top lawyer, James Baker, is being reassigned."

Resaaigned? That son of a bitch should be horsewhipped, crucified & imprisoned for life!!!

Fucking FBI pussies.

MuffDiver69 Tennessee Patriot Dec 22, 2017 9:42 AM

It’s better to keep them on for now. They don’t have the same legal rights at this level of government much like military. They have signed some seriously binding agreements to have this level of access to our lives.. Imagine these idiots taking the Fifth. It would cement the FBI went rogue...

eclectic syncretist MuffDiver69 Dec 22, 2017 10:51 AM

I hear Guantanamo has some open cells. They say Cuba is nice this time of year.

Chupacabra-322 Tennessee Patriot Dec 22, 2017 9:48 AM

@ Tenness,

Exactly my friend. We’ll see “resignations, demotions, reassignments, transfers & perhaps even some rare fireimgs.”

However, the Crime Syndicate will never Arrest own of their own Criminals.

It’s not “Hidden in plain View” anymore.

The Authoritarian Totalitarian

absolute, complete, open in our Faces,

Tyrannical Lawlessness

is here.

And, their completely Laughing Hysterically in our Faces, Criminally, Tyrannically controlling us with Impunity.

Arrest.

Enprison.

Indict.

Prosecutute.

Convict.

Execute.

For Crimes Against Humanity & Crimes Against The American People.

This make an example of them to the World & deter future Pure Evil War Criminal Treasonous Seditious Psychopaths from engaging in the same type of behaviors.

Fuck them!

And their

Tyrannical Lawlessness.

ThePhantom Tennessee Patriot Dec 22, 2017 10:39 AM

you know , its what they do with child raping priests..

IridiumRebel Dec 22, 2017 9:36 AM

GOOD
FUCK YOU
GET OUT

Seasmoke Dec 22, 2017 9:38 AM

Fuck the FBI. Fuck the IRS. They have proven to be domestic terrorist. Anyone who defends them at this point in time is the enemy.

MuffDiver69 Dec 22, 2017 9:43 AM

Damn..The Fake News Washington Compost just lost one of its best leak sources besides Comey.Stork,Lisa Page,Orhn and his wife,McCabe etc etc . This is big as this asshat was in the room during the McCabe testimony when he was obfuscating Tuesday....

Fiscal.Enema Dec 22, 2017 9:40 AM

Either you (F.B.I.) HANG HIM OR WE WILL.

Cardinal Fang Dec 22, 2017 9:40 AM

A lawyer who can't keep his mouth shut?

No!

3-fingered_chemist Dec 22, 2017 9:40 AM

Reassigned? WTF is this. Get the fuck out the door, you're fired. No pension either.

FoggyWorld Dec 22, 2017 9:41 AM

Doesn't anyone in the federal government ever get actually fired?

Jethro FoggyWorld Dec 22, 2017 9:45 AM

Its like a lifetime welfare scheme.

corporatewhore FoggyWorld Dec 22, 2017 10:14 AM

As a relative who worked in the US Postal system said " never have so many done so little for so much money", no one EVER gets fired from the gravy train. You just have to learn how to move paper and do jack shit.

BritBob Dec 22, 2017 9:41 AM

Maybe the FBI should take a look at Hillary...?

Secretary Clinton on Falklands during press conference with Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Buenos Aires 2010 : 'As to the first point, we want very much to encourage both countries to sit down. Now, we cannot make either one do so, but we think it is the right way to proceed. So we will be saying this publicly, as I have been, and we will continue to encourage exactly the kind of discussion across the table that needs to take place .'

Now if she was better informed she would not have fallen for that mythical Malvinas' deception. Ever heard of a territory being stolen in the 19th century?

Falkland Islands – The Usurpation (1 pg): https://www.academia.edu/34838377/Falkland_Islands_The_Usurpation

Was she briefed?

hooligan2009 BritBob Dec 22, 2017 9:49 AM

hi bob, merry xmas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4j2vOpRBGM

nmewn BritBob Dec 22, 2017 9:49 AM

For crying out loud Bob, of course she was briefed! How do you think she made a profit off of them?! ;-)

opport.knocks nmewn Dec 22, 2017 10:11 AM

Go easy on him. Brit Bob is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Monitoring and advocating for a Brit protectorate of about 3000 people is all he can handle.

infotechsailor Dec 22, 2017 9:41 AM

plugging the leaks. where is sessions?

SuperRay infotechsailor Dec 22, 2017 10:01 AM

Session is a total MIA empty headed moron

Goldbugger Dec 22, 2017 9:43 AM

I will be very very angry until the Clintons are indicted.

Joe Davola Goldbugger Dec 22, 2017 9:50 AM

It'll only feel like an eternity

Anarchyteez Goldbugger Dec 22, 2017 10:09 AM

Hanging by the neck on the White House front porch.

nmewn Dec 22, 2017 9:44 AM

While there is a vast difference between "fired" and reassigned, at least the vacancies over in FBI Human Resources are being filled quickly ;-)

Bay of Pigs nmewn Dec 22, 2017 9:50 AM

This guy sounds like a convenient scapegoat.

Are we surprised?

nmewn Bay of Pigs Dec 22, 2017 10:05 AM

Oh, he's as crooked as a dog's hind leg alright and I'm sure there was "discussion" over whether to...ahem...terminate him or just reassign him.

They need to know what he knows and who he's shared that with. There's a whole bunch of bureaucratic ass covering going on over at the FBI right now and it is not the only agency going through it.

It wasn't just the FBI ;-)

Gobble D. Goop nmewn Dec 22, 2017 10:32 AM

Yea that's what we need. Traitors in HR hiring more traitors...

aliens is here Dec 22, 2017 9:47 AM

Is he fired or reassigned? Being reassigned means nothing because the scum still has a job. He needs to be gone completely.

SoDamnMad aliens is here Dec 22, 2017 10:33 AM

Reassigned with continued access to files and his past sins which he can bleachwipe out of existence (of course it is there somewhere).

FGopher Dec 22, 2017 9:47 AM

"Reassigned"? What about fired, stripped of security clearances and facing indictment? We want JUSTICE for these scheming traitors.

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