Jean-Pierre on Musk Firing Twitter Lawyer Jim Baker: 'We Were Not Involved' (December 9, 2022)

Three days after Elon Musk fired Twitter deputy general counsel Jim Baker, a former general counsel of the FBI, a reporter asked the White House whether anyone in the Biden administration had been talking to him.

“Then on Twitter, Elon Musk this week fired the former FBI general counsel, Jim Baker, who was serving as a top Twitter lawyer. Musk alleges that he may have been involved with countermanding his attempts at transparency,” the reporter said. “And I was wondering if anyone in the Biden administration was in touch with Baker, either regarding moderation decisions that critics call ‘political censorship’ or regarding his transparency efforts recently.” [1]

“So, it’s up to private companies to make these types of decisions. We were not involved. I can say that. We were not involved,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said [1].

The video above shows the exchange at the Dec. 9, 2022, briefing. Quotes are from the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

”We Were Just Not Involved”

The reporter tried again. “Just very briefly on the not involved — not involved in speaking with Baker about this transparency effort by Musk. Is that what you’re saying, that the Biden administration wasn’t involved with that?” [1]

“We were just — we were just not involved. Just answering your question: We were not involved,” Jean-Pierre said. Then: “Go ahead.” [1]

She said the subject had been covered already. “And as I’ve said several times this week already, we’ve talked — we’ve had this conversation many times in this briefing room just the past couple of days,” she said. “Don’t have anything more to share.” [1]

“Invite Dr. Fauci Back Here”

The same reporter had opened with the pandemic. “Dr. Fauci’s agency recently resumed funding for the EcoHealth Alliance. Is there any concern about that, given its past risky — risky research in Wuhan? And if you’re not able to speak to that, I was wondering if you could perhaps invite Dr. Fauci back here to take some more questions.” [1]

The transcript records that Jean-Pierre laughed. “I would refer you to NIH. They would provide you with the information directly. So, I’ll just leave that there,” she said [1].

”His Explanation Was …Unconvincing”

Musk had announced the firing on Tuesday, Dec. 6. Baker “was exited from Twitter today,” Musk wrote, citing concerns over his “possible role in suppression of information important to the public dialogue,” Fox News reported [3]. Asked whether Baker had explained himself, Musk replied: “His explanation was …unconvincing” [2].

Journalist Matt Taibbi gave one reason. “On Tuesday, Twitter Deputy General Counsel (and former FBI General Counsel) Jim Baker was fired. Among the reasons? Vetting the first batch of ‘Twitter Files’ – without knowledge of new management,” he tweeted [2].

Taibbi said journalist Bari Weiss had found that the person in charge of releasing the files was “someone named Jim.” “When she called to ask ‘Jim’s’ last name, the answer came back: ‘Jim Baker.’” Taibbi added: “‘My jaw hit the floor,’ says Weiss” [2].

From the FBI to Twitter

Before Twitter, Baker was the FBI’s top lawyer during the Russia investigation. “On Sept. 19, 2016, less than two months before the presidential election, Baker met with then-Hillary Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann, who presented data allegedly showing a covert communications channel between the Trump Organization and the Russia-based Alfa Bank,” Fox News reported [3].

Baker later testified that the FBI looked into the claims for several weeks and “concluded there was no substance,” Fox reported. Sussmann was charged with making a false statement to the FBI and was acquitted in May 2022 [3].

Baker also told House investigators in 2018 that “he was personally involved in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant application to surveil then-Trump campaign aide Carter Page,” according to Fox [3].

At Twitter, Baker weighed in on the New York Post’s laptop story in 2020. “I support the conclusion that we need more facts to assess whether the materials were hacked,” he wrote, adding that “it’s reasonable for us to assume that they may have been and that caution is warranted” [3].

Fox reported that former President Donald Trump appeared to address the firing on Truth Social: “The greatest witch hunt of all time continues, over & over again, & the people of this country aren’t going to take it much longer. A giant political scam!!” [3]

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., had a request for Musk: ”.@elonmusk, can you make sure to forward our email inviting James Baker to a @GOPoversight hearing next year? We sent it to his @Twitter email.” [3]

“A Bunch of Hypotheticals”

A reporter pressed on inflation. “So, we saw the — we saw the Producer Price Index come down a bit, but it’s still above 7 percent. The Federal Reserve Chairman says that core inflation may be moving sideways. We get a CPI inflation reading again next week. So if Americans don’t see significant progress on inflation, does that mean the Inflation Reduction Act — early next year — hasn’t worked?” [1]

“Well, it — okay, let’s step back for a second,” Jean-Pierre began. “Americans are beginning to see a much-needed break in inflation, but we have more work to do.” [1]

“Yeah, but you had said the inflation — before the midterms, you told me that the Inflation Reduction Act should bring down inflation early next year. So if it doesn’t do that significantly, is that seen as, then, a failure?” the reporter asked. “Well, that — first of all, you’re — that’s a bunch of hypotheticals that you’re asking me,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

By the Numbers

4: times Jean-Pierre said “not involved” in the exchange [1].
3: days from the firing to the briefing [1][2].
51: former intelligence officials behind the 2020 letter on the laptop, per Comer [4].
2 weeks: how long the New York Post was locked out of its account, per Comer [4].
24 hours: how fast Twitter changed its policy, per Vijaya Gadde, Twitter’s former chief legal officer [4].

What Happened Next

Baker testified. On Feb. 8, 2023, Republicans brought Baker, Gadde and former Twitter safety chief Yoel Roth before the House Oversight Committee; Fox reported they had been subpoenaed [5]. “Moreover, I am aware of no unlawful collusion with or direction from any government agency or political campaign on how Twitter should have handled the Hunter Biden laptop situation,” Baker said [4].

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, pressed him on the FBI. “Did you talk to the FBI about the Hunter Biden story?” Jordan asked. “To the best of my recollection, I did not talk to the FBI about the Hunter Biden story before that day,” Baker said. “Did you talk to them after?” Jordan asked. “I don’t recall,” Baker said [4].

Roth admitted the company got it wrong. “I have been clear that in my judgment at the time, Twitter should not have taken action to block the New York Post’s reporting,” he said [4].

“Twitter would finally admit its mistake, but the damage had already been done,” Comer said [4].

For the day-earlier question on why Twitter talks were “off limits,” see HYGO News’ page on the Griner swap briefing. For the court fight over the administration’s contacts with social media companies, see the page on the White House Twitter account, and for the FTC’s demand about the Twitter Files journalists, the page on Jordan and Lina Khan.