SEE IT: Ex-FBI Lawyer Jim Baker slammed Trump’s tweet as a violation of COVID policy

Virginia KrutaDecember 26, 2022

Former General Counselor of the FBI (and former Twitter Deputy General Counsel) James Baker reportedly assisted in the effort to stifle any dissenting voices when it came to COVID-19 — even, or perhaps especially, when the dissenting voice belonged to then-President Donald Trump.

The most recent dump from the ongoing “Twitter Files” series, David Zweig reported that Twitter had actively moved to suppress or suspend accounts that did not fall in line with the approved messaging on COVID-19 — and that both the Trump administration and even more so the Biden administration had actively encouraged that.

But Zweig also reported on Monday that Baker — who, at the time was working for the social media giant — had specifically raised a question with the Twitter Trust & Safety Team about a tweet from Trump that he thought should have been flagged as a violation of COVID policy.

“In a surreal exchange, Jim Baker, at the time Twitter’s Deputy General Counsel, asks why telling people to not be afraid wasn’t a violation of Twitter’s Covid-19 misinformation policy,” Zweig tweeted, sharing a snapshot of the email Baker sent. Yoel Roth Stacia and Stacia Carille

34. In a surreal exchange, Jim Baker, at the time Twitter’s Deputy General Counsel, asks why telling people to not be afraid wasn’t a violation of Twitter’s Covid-19 misinformation policy. pic.twitter.com/SxvOKcvaT7

— David Zweig (@davidzweig) December 26, 2022

34. In a surreal exchange, Jim Baker, at the time Twitter’s Deputy General Counsel, asks why telling people to not be afraid wasn’t a violation of Twitter’s Covid-19 misinformation policy. pic.twitter.com/SxvOKcvaT7

— David Zweig (@davidzweig) December 26, 2022

“Why isn’t this POTUS tweet a violation of our COVID-19 policy (especially the ‘Don’t be afraid of COVID” statement?” Baker asked.

The tweet Baker referenced was one Trump fired off on October 5, 2020 — just before he was scheduled to be released from Walter Reed Army Medical Center after receiving treatment for COVID himself.

“I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 p.m.,” Trump tweeted. “Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of COVID. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!”

This is the Trump tweet that former FBI general counsel and then-Twitter deputy general counsel Jim Baker was suggesting was a violation of Twitter’s COVID-19 policy. https://t.co/TfzN4I5q3e pic.twitter.com/grtSSN8w2t

— Jerry Christmas 🎅🏼🎄 (@JerryDunleavy) December 26, 2022

This is the Trump tweet that former FBI general counsel and then-Twitter deputy general counsel Jim Baker was suggesting was a violation of Twitter’s COVID-19 policy. https://t.co/TfzN4I5q3e pic.twitter.com/grtSSN8w2t

— Jerry Dunleavy 🇺🇸 (@JerryDunleavy) December 26, 2022

Zweig shared Roth’s response to Baker as well, in which the former head of Twitter Trust & Safety had to explain to a former FBI lawyer that Trump was simply expressing optimism — and that was not the same as spreading misinformation.

35. Yoel Roth, Twitter’s former head of Trust & Safety, had to explain that optimism wasn’t misinformation. pic.twitter.com/1pj8uvzWR1

— David Zweig (@davidzweig) December 26, 2022

35. Yoel Roth, Twitter’s former head of Trust & Safety, had to explain that optimism wasn’t misinformation. pic.twitter.com/1pj8uvzWR1

— David Zweig (@davidzweig) December 26, 2022

“This tweet is a broad, optimistic statement,” Roth wrote. “It doesn’t incite people to do something harmful, nor does it recommend against taking precautions or following mask directives (or other guidelines).”

Roth appeared to leave the door open for Baker to present a different take, however, explaining that while it didn’t exactly “fall within the published scope” of Twitter’s policies on the topic, he was “curious” As to whether Baker had “a different read on it.”