A writer affiliated with a conservative news organization admitted guilt on Tuesday for his involvement in the violent incursion at the U.S. Capitol nearly four years ago. This plea came after a federal judge declined to delay proceedings until after the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Steve Baker, who contributes to Blaze News and has reported on the events of January 6, 2021, made his plea just as a bench trial was set to commence. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper plans to sentence Baker on March 6, although he noted there is a possibility the case might not proceed to sentencing, especially given that Trump has repeatedly stated he might grant pardons to those involved in the Capitol incident.
At 64 years old and residing in Durham, North Carolina, Baker requested that the court pause all hearings related to his case until after Trump’s inauguration. However, his request was rejected, a fate similar to others in the Capitol riot cases who have sought delays in anticipation of potential pardons.
After entering his guilty plea, Baker expressed optimism to reporters about being a likely candidate for a pardon should Trump follow through on his promises. He remarked that his decision to plead guilty was aimed at avoiding the humiliation of a trial and insisted he did not believe he had done anything wrong during the riot. “I don’t regret my actions that day,” he stated outside the courthouse.
Baker started writing for Blaze News, a platform established by conservative commentator Glenn Beck in 2011, after the Capitol incident. On January 6, he was acting as a freelance journalist and later provided footage of the riot to outlets including The New York Times and HBO.
His reporting on the Capitol attack also included covering the trial of Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, who faced charges of seditious conspiracy related to efforts to keep Trump in office after his election defeat in 2020. Baker reported from the designated press area in the courthouse.
In March, Baker was charged with four misdemeanor offenses, including disorderly conduct and trespassing, to which he pled guilty. Evidence presented by the FBI indicated that Baker entered the Capitol through an already broken door and became part of a group that forced their way toward the guarded doors of the House chamber. The affidavit detailed an encounter in which Baker confronted police officers, challenging them about their intentions regarding their weapons, before he was escorted out about 37 minutes later.
Post-riot comments made by Baker reveal his enthusiasm regarding the events that transpired, including a declaration that he was “quite excited to see this going on.” He expressed his approval of the day’s events completely, and also recounted his experience in then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s office, suggesting a sense of regret only for not having taken objects from it.
Judge Cooper voiced concern regarding Baker’s comments from that day, stating, “If you haven’t reassessed those comments, I’m not sure there’s anything I could say today that would change your mind.”
Overall, to date, over 1,500 individuals have been charged with crimes linked to the Capitol riot, with more than 1,000 having received sentences, including over 650 who are currently serving time that ranges from a few days to 22 years.
Judge Cooper emphasized that the prosecutions have been based on facts and evidence, reinforcing the principles of law, stating that they have not been influenced by baseless opinions or conspiracy theories.
Baker and his legal team have alleged that the Justice Department is selectively prosecuting him due to his political stance; however, Judge Cooper dismissed this assertion, labeling it as “unfounded speculation.”