In early 2021 Steve Baker, of Raleigh, NC,  was operating as a free-lance journalist with a blog and a Facebook account.  He had a sizeable number of followers on the internet.  Today he is on the staff of Blaze, a conservative media company based in Texas.  There is no doubt about his political leanings. Baker has been a frequent critic of the Biden administration.

On January 6, 2021, Baker followed a group of people who were surging into the United States Capitol.  He carried no weapon and did no damage.  He observed and reported on the events unfolding in front of him. 

For some months thereafter Baker continued to write about the January 6 event and expressed support for many of the demonstrators who were being prosecuted, especially the non-violent ones.  Soon he learned that he himself might be charged with trespassing on government property and interfering with the work of Congress.  Finally, a few weeks ago, three years after his supposed crime, he was informed that he was to be arrested on misdemeanor charges.  At that point he made arrangements to turn himself in.

Baker’s attorneys’ were assured that it would be an in and out affair and that he would not be detained pending trial.  However, when he reported to the FBI office in Dallas he was handcuffed and taken to the courthouse.  There he was put in leg-irons prior to being charged and released on bail.

As Baker said, “They didn’t have to go this route.  Rather than issuing a simple order to appear, they seem to feel the need to give me a dose of the personal humiliation treatment.”

The handcuffing and the leg-irons were obvious attempts to embarrass and intimidate.  This is part of a pattern we’ve seen in recent DOD and FBI arrests, and I find it deeply disturbing.  Remember how Peter Novarro, charged with contempt based on findings by the notorious January 6 Committee, was accosted, humiliated and shackled at a Washington airport? Do you recall the news stories about Christians being confronted and arrested by scores of armed FBI agents many months after their prayerful prayers in front of an abortion clinic? More recently, only a few days ago, four more persons, including an 87 year old woman, were arrested for having prayed at an abortion clinic. These peaceful protesters were taken into custody by armed FBI agents, and they face charges that could result in eleven years imprisonment.

I’m embarrassed for our country.

Attorney General Garland and FBI Director Wray should hang their heads in shame..