Thread by @mattzap

Former FBI General Counsel Jim Baker is appearing at @BrookingsInst for a taping of the Lawfare Podcast. He says emphatically that the tip on George Papadopoulos is what sparked the Russia investigation, and he was aware of no other probes of Trump campaign affiliates before that

He was motivated to speak publicly, he said, because he was “sick of all the BS that is said about the origins of the investigation” and “to reassure the American people that it was done for lawful, legitimate reasons.”

Now Baker is defending use of Steele and Steele dossier. He says investigation was “not predicated” on Steele’s info. With all tipsters, Baker said, the bureau has to operate seriously but skeptically. “People come to us with agendas,” he said.

Baker says he personally reviewed the FISA application for surveillance of Carter Page before it went further up the chain, and he was “comfortable” with it.

Baker, addressing the opening of the obstruction case into Trump, “There was no attempted coup.”
“There was no way in hell that I was going to allow some coup or coup attempt to take place on my watch.”
He said he examined AG guidelines before proceeding so he felt comfortable

Of the results of the obstruction investigation, detailed in Volume 2 of the Mueller report, Baker says...
“It sure looks like a pattern of corruption.”
“Even if it’s not criminal, it should be unacceptable in America today.”

The Justice Department inspector general is looking at much of this, and Baker concedes, “I’m sure they will find things I didn’t know about at the time.” He said he’s “confident in the judgements that I made at the time based on the information I had available to me.”

Baker, on his reaction to Trump tweets at him:
“It’s like, not a happy day.”
“It’s terrible, really.”
“It was extremely unnerving and weird.”
He added, though, he has gotten “more used to it,” and that friends have rallied around him.

Baker also said it affected his job search after he left the FBI. A “couple” potential employers, he said, told him, “Jim, we like you, we’d be very interested in having you, you’re too controversial.”

On leak investigation into him, Baker is coy but concedes “there is an investigation with respect to matters in which I was involved that is still open.” He said he has “cooperated fully,” meeting with investigators for many hours over many days. That happened 1.5 years ago

Interesting comment from Baker in response to a question. Says of Russians: “You shouldn’t assume they’re going to support Donald Trump the next time.” Says their main aim is to disrupt the U.S., and they’ll back whoever will help them accomplish that

Forgot to tweet earlier, the full recap of today: washingtonpost.com/world/national…

If you want to hear the entire conversation between @thejimbaker and @benjaminwittes, here it is: lawfare.libsyn.com/bonus-edition-…