It has become clear why the release of the Twitter Files last weekend, exposing the cover up of Hunter Biden’s abandoned laptop, was delayed and why follow up files have been. .Twitter’s deputy general counsel and former FBI general counsel, Jim Baker, was vetting the files before forwarding them to Elon Musk and independent journalist Matt Taibbi, who posted the original files..Baker was involved without Musk’s knowledge and was terminated by Twitter’s CEO as soon as the vetting and Baker’s background were brought to his attention..“In light of concerns about Baker’s possible role in suppression of information important to the public dialogue, he was exited from Twitter today,” tweeted Musk on Tuesday. .Musk added, before "exiting" Baker, he questioned him about the events surrounding the laptop suppression scandal and that the lawyer’s explanation was “unconvincing.”.Common Sense founder Bari Weiss is working with Taibbi in reviewing Twitter’s internal documents related to the New York Post’s story..“The process for producing the ‘Twitter Files’ involved delivery to Bari Weiss and me via a lawyer close to new management," said Taibbi.."However, after the initial batch, things became complicated." .It was Weiss who discovered “that the person in charge of releasing the files was a person named Jim..“When she called to ask ‘Jim’s’ last name, the answer came back: ‘Jim Baker,’” said Taibbi..“My jaw hit the floor,” tweeted Weiss..Baker “is a controversial figure,” said Taibbi. .He was general counsel for the FBI and a key figure in the bureau’s investigation into false claims of Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential campaign..While at the FBI, Baker worked closely with anti-Trump FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page..Baker has stood by his conduct while at the FBI and regarding the Russia probe..This summer, Baker was a star witness for special counsel John Durham in his case against former Hillary Clinton lawyer Michael Sussmann, who was found not guilty in May of lying to the FBI..Baker has been linked to Mother Jones reporter David Corn, who broke the news of the existence of the Steele dossier, compiled by British ex-spy Christopher Steele and loaded with unproven claims about Trump..Baker communicated with Corn in the weeks leading up to the 2016 presidential election before Corn reported on the existence of the dossier. .Twitter hired Baker to lead its legal team in June 2020, one month after Twitter generated controversy for labeling two Trump tweets claiming that mail-in ballots will lead to a “rigged election” as promoting misinformation..Baker’s axing by Musk comes after Taibbi revealed internal documents showing the lawyer and other top Twitter execs deliberating over what to do about Post’s story about the abandoned laptop and the influence-peddling schemes it contained..The Twitter Files showed inside Twitter, the move to block The Post’s bombshell story raised serious concerns over the company serving as a censor for the Biden campaign..Taibbi reports on an exchange between Baker and former Twitter vice president of global communications Brandon Borrman about the decision to censor the Post’s reporting..Borrman, referring to Twitter’s hacked materials policy, asks Baker, “Can we truthfully claim that this is part of the policy?”.Baker responds that “caution is warranted,” suggesting the Post’s story should be censored, which it was without any evidence of a hack..Accounts of users who tried to share the allegations were suspended, including former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany’s account, for linking to the Post’s reporting on the scandal..“Hacking was the excuse, but within a few hours, pretty much everyone realized that wasn’t going to hold," said a former employee.."But no one had the guts to reverse it." .Taibbi said he and Weiss were back to reviewing the files..“The next installment of The Twitter Files will appear @bariweiss," tweeted Taibbi. ."Stay tuned."
