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Stephen Michael Baker

Journalist and January 6 defendant; four-misdemeanor guilty plea; covered by January 20, 2025 clemency

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Stephen Michael Baker, known to his readers as Steve Baker, is an investigative journalist and a working musician out of North Carolina. He was arrested for doing journalism. That is the whole story in one line. Everything else is detail. HIS STORY AND HIS WORK [FACT] His Blaze News author bio reads: "Steve Baker was an opinion contributor for Blaze News and an investigative journalist. He's a musician and resides in Raleigh." [FACT] NBC News described him as a musician and libertarian writer who works for The Blaze. [FACT] He was at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021 recording video. WRAL reported he entered without media credentials and that footage he captured was later used by other news outlets. [FACT] His reporting since has focused on January 6 evidence, the pipe bomb investigation, and the conduct of Capitol Police. Blaze Media has published that work under his byline. He kept working the story while he was a defendant in it. THE LEGAL FIGHT [FACT] Baker was not charged until three years after January 6. He turned himself in at the FBI Dallas field office on March 1, 2024. Blaze Media reported he was handcuffed there. [FACT] He was charged with four misdemeanor counts: entering a restricted building without lawful authority, disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. [FACT] On April 4, 2024 he pleaded not guilty to all four counts before U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper. [FACT] Blaze Media reported that his pretrial release conditions included a firearm prohibition and a requirement to report law enforcement contacts, and that he argued those conditions conflicted with his work as a journalist and with his own security. [FACT] On November 12, 2024 he pleaded guilty to the four misdemeanors. WRAL reported he said he did not believe the court would allow him to present the defense he wanted to present. [THEIR ACCOUNT] Baker disputes the government's characterization that he antagonized officers. He told WRAL: "I didn't do any cat calling at the law enforcement officers," and pointed to video of a Capitol Police officer peacefully escorting him out. "I didn't resist." [FACT] Sentencing had been scheduled for March 6, 2025. On January 20, 2025 the President issued a proclamation granting full, complete and unconditional pardons to individuals convicted of offenses related to the events at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. Baker is covered by that grant, and the U.S. Attorney moved to dismiss. [THEIR ACCOUNT] After the pardon, Baker fought back tears thanking the President for ending what he called the nightmare. He also said his career benefited from the notoriety, and that he considers himself luckier than other defendants who he believes were over-prosecuted for the same conduct. A man who got out saying other people are still buried. Remember that. WHERE TO FIND HIS WORK Self-published and identity confirmed: X, @SteveBakerUSA. Blaze Media author page: https://www.theblaze.com/u/stevebaker WHAT THIS DOES NOT PROVE Baker was never charged with violence. He was never charged with a weapon. He was never charged with destroying property. Four misdemeanors, three years late, against a man holding a camera. THE CASE RECORD Name: Stephen Michael Baker Case number: 1:24-cr-00121-CRC Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Judge: Christopher R. Cooper Arrested: March 1, 2024 Plea: Guilty, four misdemeanor counts, November 12, 2024 Status: Covered by the January 20, 2025 clemency proclamation This profile is unclaimed. If this is you, or your family, claiming it is free, forever.