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Line 48: − − On December 21, 2017, Baker was removed from any responsibility and left the Justice Department in April 2018 to work for the [[Brookings Institute]] and [[Benjamin Wittes]]' Lawfareblog. Wittes was the first to write about an "insurance policy" should Trump win. Line 70:
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→Obamagate scandal
==Obamagate scandal==
==Obamagate scandal==
The House Judiciary and Oversight committees concluded in 2018 that the DOJ under [[President Barack Obama]] had treated [[Donal Trump]] and [[Hillary Clinton]] unequally by affording Clinton and her associates extraordinary accommodations, while abusing surveillance powers to investigate Trump’s associates.
Baker testified that it was [[Michael Sussmann]], a partner at [[Perkins Coie]], who shared with him information that detailed alleged communications between servers in Trump Tower and servers located in [[Russia]] at Alfa Bank—an allegation that eventually was debunked.<ref>https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/11/the-trump-server-evaluating-new-evidence-and-countertheories.html</ref> Sussmann was also the lawyer who spearheaded the handling of the alleged breach of the [[DNC]] servers.
Baker testified that it was [[Michael Sussmann]], a partner at [[Perkins Coie]], who shared with him information that detailed alleged communications between servers in Trump Tower and servers located in [[Russia]] at Alfa Bank—an allegation that eventually was debunked.<ref>https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/11/the-trump-server-evaluating-new-evidence-and-countertheories.html</ref> Sussmann was also the lawyer who spearheaded the handling of the alleged breach of the [[DNC]] servers.
In addition to coordinating the “small group” activity to exonerate [[Hillary Clinton]], Baker was also a recipient for some of the Comey Memos of leaks of privileged conversations with President Trump. Baker has knowledge of, and possibly a co-conspirator in, the “insurance policy” described by FBI Agent [[Peter Strzok]] and FBI Counsel [[Lisa Page]]. Additionally, Baker would be able to identify the level of knowledge and participation of Director Comey, and is therefore perhaps the biggest risk to Comey specifically.
In addition to coordinating the “small group” activity to exonerate [[Hillary Clinton]], Baker was also a recipient for some of the Comey Memos of leaks of privileged conversations with President Trump. Baker has knowledge of, and possibly a co-conspirator in, the “insurance policy” described by FBI Agent [[Peter Strzok]] and FBI Counsel [[Lisa Page]]. Additionally, Baker would be able to identify the level of knowledge and participation of Director Comey, and is therefore perhaps the biggest risk to Comey specifically.
===FISA abuse===
===FISA abuse===
DOJ official [[Bruce Ohr]], who was a key conduit between Steele and the FBI, testified that he had informed the bureau of Steele’s anti-Trump bias, and that the dossier was tied to the Clinton campaign and the DNC. Neither fact appeared in the final FISA application before it was approved by the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court]].
DOJ official [[Bruce Ohr]], who was a key conduit between Steele and the FBI, testified that he had informed the bureau of Steele’s anti-Trump bias, and that the dossier was tied to the Clinton campaign and the DNC. Neither fact appeared in the final FISA application before it was approved by the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court]].
When asked whether he was aware of Bruce Ohr’s warning to the FBI, Baker responded, “I don’t recall ever hearing that before just right now” in his 2018 Congressional testi,mony. Baker told lawmakers he was aware Ohr served as Steele’s back-channel to the FBI, but said he was unaware, however, that Ohr’s FBI handler, agent [[Joe Pientka]], funneled the intelligence to FBI Deputy Assistant Director [[Peter Strzok]] and FBI attorney [[Lisa Page]]. Baker said that he only became aware of the fact that Ohr’s wife, [[Nellie Ohr]], worked for Fusion GPS—which had also employed Steele—from public reporting.
When asked whether he was aware of Bruce Ohr’s warning to the FBI, Baker responded, “I don’t recall ever hearing that before just right now” in his 2018 Congressional testimony. Baker told lawmakers he was aware Ohr served as Steele’s back-channel to the FBI, but said he was unaware, however, that Ohr’s FBI handler, agent [[Joe Pientka]], funneled the intelligence to FBI Deputy Assistant Director [[Peter Strzok]] and FBI attorney [[Lisa Page]]. Baker said that he only became aware of the fact that Ohr’s wife, [[Nellie Ohr]], worked for Fusion GPS—which had also employed Steele—from public reporting.
Strzok and Lisa Page exchanged dozens of text messages expressing bias against [[Donald Trump]] and support for [[Hillary Clinton]], while playing key roles on the investigations related to both candidates. The discovery of the text messages led to the removal of Strzok from the [[Mueller probe]]. Baker told Congress he ordered an investigation into the messages shortly after reading them.
Strzok and Lisa Page exchanged dozens of text messages expressing bias against Donald Trump and support for Hillary Clinton, while playing key roles on the investigations related to both candidates. The discovery of the text messages led to the removal of Strzok from the [[Mueller probe]]. Baker told Congress he ordered an investigation into the messages shortly after reading them.
===Comey leaks===
===Comey leaks===