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[[File:800px-Benjamin Wittes, 2013.jpg|175px|left|thumb|'''Benjamin Wittes''' of [[Lawfare]], associated with the Brookings Institution, has been in the forefront of the political weaponization of Law providing the sketchy legal framework under which both the 2017 [[Deep State coup]] and the 2019 [[impeachment inquiry]] were carried out. Baker went to work for Wittes after being fired by DOJ.]]

[[File:800px-Benjamin Wittes, 2013.jpg|175px|left|thumb|'''Benjamin Wittes''' of [[Lawfare]], associated with the Brookings Institution, has been in the forefront of the political weaponization of Law providing the sketchy legal framework under which both the 2017 [[Deep State coup]] and the 2019 [[impeachment inquiry]] were carried out. Baker went to work for Wittes after being fired by DOJ.]]

Baker joined the Justice Criminal Department in 1990 and went on to work as a [[United States Attorney]]. In 1996 he joined Office of Intelligence Policy and Review (OIPR). This government agency handles all DOJ requests for surveillance authorizations under the terms of the 1978 [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]], advises the [[Attorney General]] and all [[Intelligence Community|major intelligence-gathering agencies]] on legal issues relating to [[national security]] and [[surveillance]], and  "coordinates" the views of the intelligence community regarding intelligence legislation.<ref>US DOJ website on OIPR https://web.archive.org/web/20060115184741/http://www.usdoj.gov/oipr/</ref> Baker has often testified before Congress on behalf of [[Bill Clinton]] and [[George W. Bush]] administration intelligence policies, including defending the [[Patriot Act]] before the [[House Judiciary Committee]].<ref>STATEMENT JAMES A. BAKER COUNSEL FOR INTELLIGENCE POLICY OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE POLICY AND REVIEW UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE https://web.archive.org/web/20050510053933/http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/subs/testimony/042605-oipr-baker.pdf</ref><ref>STATEMENT JAMES A. BAKER COUNSEL FOR INTELLIGENCE POLICY OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE POLICY AND REVIEW UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE https://web.archive.org/web/20050510055040/http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/subs/testimony/042805-oipr-baker.pdf</ref> Regarding Baker's 2007 appearance on the [[PBS]] ''Frontline'' episode "Spying on the Home Front", the show's producer, in a ''[[Washington Post]]'' online chat, referred to Baker as "Mr. FISA himself".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Young|first1=Rick|title=PBS Frontline: 'Spying on the Home Front'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/05/03/DI2007050301142.html|accessdate=|work=The Washington Post|date=May 16, 2007|quote=Mr. FISA himself, Mr. James Baker, the DOJ point man on FISA.}}</ref>

Baker joined the Justice Criminal Department in 1990 and went on to work as a [[United States Attorney]]. In 1996 he joined Office of Intelligence Policy and Review (OIPR). This government agency handles all DOJ requests for surveillance authorizations under the terms of the 1978 [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]], advises the [[Attorney General]] and all [[Intelligence Community|major intelligence-gathering agencies]] on legal issues relating to [[national security]] and [[surveillance]], and  "coordinates" the views of the intelligence community regarding intelligence legislation.<ref>US DOJ website on OIPR https://web.archive.org/web/20060115184741/http://www.usdoj.gov/oipr/</ref> Baker has often testified before Congress on behalf of [[Bill Clinton]] and [[George W. Bush]] administration intelligence policies, including defending the [[Patriot Act]] before the [[House Judiciary Committee]].<ref>STATEMENT JAMES A. BAKER COUNSEL FOR INTELLIGENCE POLICY OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE POLICY AND REVIEW UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE https://web.archive.org/web/20050510053933/http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/subs/testimony/042605-oipr-baker.pdf</ref><ref>STATEMENT JAMES A. BAKER COUNSEL FOR INTELLIGENCE POLICY OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE POLICY AND REVIEW UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE https://web.archive.org/web/20050510055040/http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/subs/testimony/042805-oipr-baker.pdf</ref> Regarding Baker's 2007 appearance on the [[PBS]] ''Frontline'' episode "Spying on the Home Front", the show's producer, in a ''[[Washington Post]]'' online chat, referred to Baker as "Mr. FISA himself".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Young|first1=Rick|title=PBS Frontline: 'Spying on the Home Front'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/05/03/DI2007050301142.html|accessdate=|work=The Washington Post|date=May 16, 2007|quote=Mr. FISA himself, Mr. James Baker, the DOJ point man on FISA.}}</ref>

Baker's government service was interrupted twice by stints in the private sector. Baker was assistant general counsel for national security at [[Verizon|Verizon Business]] from 2008 to 2009.<ref name="pressrel" /> He was associate general counsel with Bridgewater Associates, LP from 2012 to 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=James A. Baker|url=http://hls.harvard.edu/faculty/directory/10035/Baker|website=[[Harvard Law School]]|publisher=[[Harvard University]]|accessdate=}}</ref>

Baker's government service was interrupted twice by stints in the private sector. Baker was assistant general counsel for national security at [[Verizon|Verizon Business]] from 2008 to 2009.<ref name="pressrel" /> He was associate general counsel with Bridgewater Associates, LP from 2012 to 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=James A. Baker|url=http://hls.harvard.edu/faculty/directory/10035/Baker|website=[[Harvard Law School]]|publisher=[[Harvard University]]|accessdate=}}</ref>