A conservative media outlet writer has pleaded guilty on Tuesday for participating in the attack on the U.S. Capitol almost four years ago. Despite his request to postpone the case until after President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, a federal judge denied the delay.
Steve Baker, an author who has written articles about the January 6, 2021, riot for Blaze News, pleaded guilty on the same day his bench trial was set to commence.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper has set a sentencing date for Baker on March 6. However, the judge has acknowledged that the case might not even reach the punishment stage.
President Trump has made it clear that he intends to grant pardons to defendants involved in the January 6 riot on multiple occasions.
Baker, a 64-year-old resident of Durham, North Carolina, had requested Judge Cooper to reschedule all the deadlines and hearings for his case until after Trump’s inauguration.
However, the judge turned down Baker’s plea. This denial follows a series of similar rejections by other judges in cases involving Capitol riot defendants who anticipate a potential pardon from Trump.
After admitting his guilt, Baker confidently shared with reporters that he believes he is at the forefront of the potential pardons list if Trump decides to grant any.
He explained that his decision to plead guilty was driven by a desire to avoid the public scrutiny and humiliation of a trial. Throughout, Baker steadfastly maintained his innocence, asserting that he did not engage in any wrongdoing on January 6th.
“I have no regrets about my behavior on that day,” he confidently stated outside the courthouse.
Blaze News is a segment of an online platform established by conservative political commentator Glenn Beck in 2011, following his departure from Fox News. Baker joined the media outlet subsequent to the events of the Jan. 6 siege.
Initially working as a freelance journalist on that day, he subsequently sold videos capturing the riot to The New York Times and HBO.
Baker extensively covered the Jan. 6 attack, focusing on the trial of Stewart Rhodes, the founder of Oath Keepers, and four of his associates.
These individuals were charged with seditious conspiracy, as they were allegedly involved in a plot to ensure Trump remained in the White House following his defeat in the 2020 election. Throughout the trial, Baker diligently reported from a dedicated courtroom space specifically reserved for news reporters.
According to an FBI agent’s affidavit, Baker entered the Capitol through a broken door and joined the mob at the barricaded doors to the House chamber after the riot erupted.
According to the FBI, in a different section of the Capitol, Baker allegedly confronted and provoked police officers who were attempting to prevent him from crossing a doorjamb.
He persistently asked the officers, “Are you going to use that gun on us?” After around 37 minutes, law enforcement eventually escorted him out of the Capitol.
During and after the riot, Baker made statements that are mentioned in the affidavit. In an interview with a local television station, he expressed his excitement about witnessing the events at the Capitol. According to the affidavit, he expressed his complete approval of the events that took place today.
According to Baker, there were around 20 to 30 individuals present in Nancy Pelosi’s office when I arrived there. In a video posted on a YouTube channel on January 6th, Baker also used a sexist expletive when referring to Pelosi.
According to the FBI, Baker expressed regret over not seizing the rioters’ computers during the attack on Pelosi’s office, as he speculated on the potential incriminating evidence that could have been uncovered. However, by the time he entered the office, some damage had already been done.
Cooper expressed his concern over Baker’s rhetoric on that particular day. The judge stated, “If you haven’t reevaluated those remarks, I don’t believe there’s anything I could say today that would alter your perspective.”
More than 1,500 individuals have faced charges for federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. Out of those, more than 1,000 rioters have been convicted, and their sentences vary from a few days to 22 years in prison.
Cooper highlighted that the prosecution of the Jan. 6 incidents has been based on factual evidence, showcasing the adherence to the rule of law.
“The judge emphasized that their decisions were not based on unfounded opinions or conspiracy theories.”
Baker and his attorneys alleged that the Justice Department was targeting him based on his political beliefs. However, the judge dismissed this accusation, deeming it as baseless speculation.