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Former FBI lawyer James Baker said on Friday that there were "rumors" that President Trump was canceling investigations by the Justice Department and the FBI.
During an interview on MSNBC, Baker told host Rachel Maddow that he had decided to express himself because of Trump's intimidation tactics.
"It could have a significant negative impact in the long run," he said, because people are worried about their careers and their reputation.
"When the president of the United States starts attacking you on Twitter, it's … annoying," he said. "If you're concerned about your reputation and your long-term career, you'll be more likely to hesitate to do things that will attract that kind of anger."
Maddow asked if he knew about any investigations that Trump's behavior was hindering. Baker said he had "heard rumors going in this direction", but he had no confirmation on it. He acknowledged that this dynamic is "currently" at work.
"Whether it's true or not, there is something to worry about," he said. He noted that "certain types of investigations, especially when they are starting to touch the political system or political leaders," are matters of concern.
Baker's interview comes after the release of Special Investigator Robert Mueller's investigation report on Russia, which details 10 cases in which Trump could have obstructed justice. He declined to say one way or the other if Trump had committed a crime, citing a directive from the Department of Justice that presiding officers can not be charged.
Baker was appointed FBI General Counsel in January 2014 and reassigned by FBI Director Christopher Wray in December 2017. Last year, it was reported that Baker was resigning. Since then, he has written for Lawfare and joined the R Street Institute.
The FBI has been closely scrutinized for the treatment of the Trump-Russia investigation, with allegations of politicization, inappropriate surveillance, espionage, and abuse of the Foreign Intelligence Oversight Act . Baker, who is under criminal investigation for alleged unauthorized leaks in the media, has been criticized by Trump for allowing the use of an unverified record in order to 39, get the right to spy on a member of his 2016 campaign, Carter Page.
"Former FBI attorney, James Baker, has just admitted his involvement in the FISA mandate and also admitted the existence of IRREGULARITIES in the way the investigation took place. was conducted in Russia, "Trump said in January. "They relied heavily on Trump's unpublished" File ", funded by the DNC & Clinton campaign, and funded by a large Crooked Hillary law firm, represented by his lawyer, Michael Sussmann (do you believe it? ?), Who worked hard for Baker and gave him Oppo Research for "an investigation on Russia" This meeting, now on show, is the subject of investigations in the Senate and much more.An unconstitutional hoax .
Baker said that Trump's intimidation tactics against the FBI were "very dangerous," but believes that the office's career managers are extremely resilient and will "resist" Trump as much as they can.
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