Jan. 6 journalist Steve Baker fights back tears while thanking Trump for 'ending this nightmare'



President Donald Trump made good on a major campaign promise Monday, issuing a "full, complete and unconditional" pardon for most Jan. 6 defendants, whom he referred to as political "hostages." Citing the need for further study of their cases, he issued commutations for over a dozen Oath Keepers and indicated that they too might ultimately see full pardons.

Among the estimated 1,500 individuals overall who will benefit from Trump's pardons is Blaze News investigative journalist Steve Baker, who covered the Jan. 6 protests and riots for his blog, the Pragmatic Constitutionalist.

Baker expressed profound gratitude to the 47th president in a Blaze Media exclusive Monday, highlighting the significance of the pardons and the "nightmare" they have ended.

"You have to forgive me if I'm a little bit emotional about what's happening right now," said Baker. "The pardons, commutations from President Trump — they don't just affect my life, they affect those of hundreds, hundreds, hundreds of people who have been far more egregiously affected by the weaponization of the Biden DOJ — call it whatever you want to."

'I'm going to start drunk-texting my FBI agent again.'

Baker was arrested in March 2024, pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor charges in November to "avoid the shaming exercise of the trial," and was set to hear his sentence in March.

The journalist noted that whereas he suffered a seemingly interminable series of sleepless nights, "so many others lost everything. They lost their homes. They lost their families. They lost their wives, their husbands. They lost their jobs. They lost their careers."

Baker suggested that the so-called justice system waged a campaign of "over-weaponization," "over-prosecution," and "over-sentencing of people who did not do anything other than just walk through an open door at the Capitol on Jan. 6."

Unlike the rioters given a relative pass for inflicting billions of dollars of damage on the nation in 2020, Baker noted that Jan. 6 defendants' lives were destroyed in many cases for briefly entering the Capitol, looking around, and snapping a few selfies.

Some of those whose lives were destroyed amid the politically charged lawfare campaign did not live to enjoy a pardon from Trump. Like Nejourde "Jord" Meacham, Mark Aungst, and Christopher Georgia, Matthew Perna took his own life in the face of the Biden DOJ's weaponized prosecution. According to his obituary, the "constant delay in hearings, and postponements [that] dragged out for over a year" broke Perna's heart and spirit. The previous year, former U.S. Marine John Anderson, another Jan. 6 defendant awaiting charges, similarly perished — just eight months after getting married.

"Thank God President Trump has come forward. He's not only pardoning those who did nonviolent, glorified trespassing, for God's sakes — that walked through and they waved a Trump flag or they said, 'USA, USA, USA' or 'stop the steal,' even," said Baker."

Audibly overwhelmed, Baker said, "Thank you, President Trump, for ending this nightmare for so many people. Thank you."

Baker noted on X Tuesday what he plans to do now that he's pardoned: "I'm going to travel tomorrow without notifying my federal pretrial services officer"; "I'm going to pick up my firearms"; "I'm going to start drunk-texting my FBI agent again"; and "there will be 'ex parte' communication with [U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper]."

While Baker, other Jan. 6 defendants, and their family members are elated over the news that the "nightmare" is over, top Democrats and their fellow travelers in the liberal media have reflexively descended into fits of rage. Those who reserved similar judgment in recent days and weeks for former President Joe Biden's last-minute pardons and commutations for family members, cop-killers, child-rapists, and other controversial figures have recycled well-worn claims that clemency for nonviolent protesters could incentivize right-wing violence and that the pardons are somehow unprecedented.

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Rep. Chip Roy urges colleagues to axe Clinton law used to toss peaceful pro-lifers in prison



Texas Rep. Chip Roy (R) is urging his colleagues to vote before year end or in early January on the repeal of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. While Republicans might have enough votes — and will have a trifecta as of January — it is unclear whether they have the requisite will.

"We're after the election now, so I feel like we ought to put it out there this year. Go ahead and vote on it," Roy told the Daily Signal, "so that more Americans can’t get persecuted."

The FACE Act, ratified by President Bill Clinton in 1994, is supposed to protect access to churches and abortion facilities but has been weaponized by the Biden Department of Justice to lock up peaceful pro-life protesters, such as Paulette Harlow, 75; Jean Marshall, 74; Joan Bell, 76; John Hinshaw, 69; Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising director of activism Lauren Handy; and 89-year-old concentration camp survivor Eva Edl.

According to the legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom, "the DOJ brought at least 26 charges against pro-life individuals under the FACE Act in 2022. What were the total number of charges against abortion activists who obstructed or vandalized pro-life pregnancy centers in the wake of the Dobbs decision that year? Zero."

'Free Americans should never live in fear of their government targeting them because of their beliefs.'

The DOJ continued its lopsided application of the law the following year, revealing an institutional commitment to holding pro-lifers to a different standard from their violent counterparts.

The Daily Caller reported in July that from 1994 to 2024, there were 205 cases brought under the FACE Act against pro-life activists and only six brought against abortion activists; 55 of those cases were prosecuted during the Biden administration, only five of which reportedly concerned attacks on pregnancy resource centers.

Months after urging the House Appropriations Committee to bar the use of taxpayer funds for the enforcement of the FACE Act, Rep. Roy introduced legislation in September 2023 that would repeal the law. The FACE Act Repeal Act of 2023 found 47 sponsors in the House. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) subsequently introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate.

Roy stated at the time, "Free Americans should never live in fear of their government targeting them because of their beliefs. Yet Biden's Department of Justice has brazenly weaponized the FACE Act against normal, everyday Americans across the political spectrum, simply because they are pro-life."

"Our Constitution separates power between the federal government and the states for a reason, and we ignore that safeguard at our own peril," continued the Texas congressman. "The FACE Act is an unconstitutional federal takeover of state police powers; it must be repealed."

'Republicans are going to have to get the nerve to actually stand up.'

Lee noted in an X thread earlier this year, "The FACE Act criminalizes an odd assortment of offenses, including blocking access to and vandalizing (1) abortion clinics, (2) places of worship, and (3) pregnancy centers. How many prosecutions has Team Biden brought in the second category? Zero. Not even one."

"The FACE Act, it seems, is being used by DOJ to punish pro-life protesters but not their pro-abortion counterparts," wrote Lee. "In enacting the FACE Act, moreover, Congress relied on now difficult-to-defend readings of both the Commerce Clause and the Fourteenth Amendment. I suspect most of the Republicans who voted for the FACE Act in 1994 would've voted differently had they anticipated the one-sided manner in which it would be enforced by DOJ."

Roy, who has repeatedly called for the the House GOP to take up his bill in the months since, told the Daily Signal this week, "Obviously, we need to move the bill forward, and it would be critical because of what we're seeing with respect to the persecution of Americans being put in jail."

"I think with the trifecta, we should be able to pass it," said Roy. "We should bring it forward. But look, Republicans are going to have to get the nerve to actually stand up for both free speech and life."

Although it is up to lawmakers to axe the FACE Act, President-elect Donald Trump suggested in a June 22 speech to the Faith and Freedom Coalition that he will pardon peaceful pro-life activists such as Paulette Harlow upon taking office.

In May, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, a Clinton-appointed judge who chastised a nun for daring to make the sign of the cross in court, sentenced Harlow to 24 months in prison. Harlow, an elderly woman suffering from a debilitating medical condition, was among the pro-life activists convicted for blocking access on Oct. 22, 2020, to the Washington Surgi-Clinic, operated by the late-term abortionist Cesare Santangelo.

“Paulette is one of many peaceful pro-lifers who Joe Biden has rounded up, sometimes with SWAT teams, and thrown them in jail," said Trump. "Many people are in jail over this. … We're going to get that taken care of immediately — [on the] first day."

Trump noted further that upon taking office, his administration would "rapidly review the cases of every political prisoner who's unjustly victimized by the Biden regime, including Paulette, so we can get them out of the gulags and back to their families where they belong."

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'Fight Fascism!'

Businesses board up their windows in heavily Democratic cities ahead of Election Day



Heavily Democratic cities are now in the habit of boarding up windows and shuttering businesses ahead of political events that might upset local leftists.

That is certainly the case with Washington, D.C., which erected "Black Lives Matter"-branded plywood boards and fencing outside of stores ahead of the 2020 election and saw businesses brace for chaos again when Roe v. Wade was overturned. Some businesses in the city also took precautions ahead of the January 2017 anti-Trump riots, where all the rioters ultimately got off scot-free, as well as ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, protests, where rioters were held to a different standard.

Possibly anticipating more chaos in the District of Columbia, where 92.1% of the vote in the last presidential election went to Joe Biden, businesses are once again reinforcing their windows and preparing for potentially "fiery but mostly peaceful protests."

Resident Stacy Snyder told WJLA-TV, "Hopefully no riots. Nobody wants to see anyone get hurt or any damage. After what happened last time, I guess, you have to be prepared for anything. So, like I said, better safe than sorry."

Ebony Boger, who works downtown, indicated she recently received an email from building management indicating it was going to fortify the exterior.

"It's not shocking. I'm kind of used to it. I think they should do it," said Boger.

The managers of various buildings confirmed to WJLA that the election was the reason behind the plywood reinforcement.

According to the Washington Post, some business and property owners have also boosted their private security in anticipation of possible riots and looting.

'If people choose to riot, I feel like we need to listen to the people.'

Leon Beresford, executive vice president of Admiral Security Services, indicated that his company, which provides security to 150 commercial office buildings in D.C., is mobilizing around 2,000 guards in time for Election Day.

"People would rather be overprepared and have nothing happen, as opposed to the alternative," said Eric Jones, vice president of government affairs for the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington.

Washington Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith said at a press conference last week, "I want to be very clear: We will not tolerate any violence of any kind. We will not tolerate any riots. We will not tolerate the destruction of property. We will not tolerate any unlawful behavior. Offenders will be arrested and will be held accountable."

Smith indicated that well over 3,000 police officers will be working 12-hour shifts through the election.

Storefronts in Portland, Oregon — another heavily Democratic city — have similarly disappeared behind protective boards. While big-name businesses like Chase Bank have reinforced their establishments, some have alternatively chosen to trust the mob.

Katherine Morgan, the owner of the relatively new Grand Gestures Books, told KATU-TV, "When I got the business, the windows were boarded up because of the protest, and they just never came down. For me, if people choose to riot, I feel like we need to listen to the people."

Morgan indicated she won't be boarding up her establishment, noting, "I'm someone who believes in protesting, I'm someone who believes in doing whatever you can for your voice to be heard."

Real estate developer Jordan Schnitzer told the Oregonian he is praying his building will go unscathed.

"If your sports team loses, do you go out and break windows?" said Schnitzer. "In this day and age to see that this type of behavior in America is so commonplace is heartbreaking."

Portland Police Chief Bob Day said last week, "We never can eliminate risk, but the confidence that I have in our community, the confidence I have in our law enforcement response, I'm really hopeful that that's not going to be necessary."

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A post shared on social media purportedly shows a video of a massive rally that recently occurred in London. What a fucking magnificent spectacle 300,000 British Patriots 🇬🇧🫡🥲 So proud to be British today more than ever 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧💙🤍❤️🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 We did Tommy proud. We did ourselves proud. We did the entire fucking western world proud ✊🏻🇬🇧 Well […]

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Up more than 50%

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Exclusive: Police catch street artist Sabo; court date looms



Breathe easy, citizens — the Aurora, Colorado, police have got their man.

No word on what's going on with the violent Venezuelan gang members who have taken over an entire apartment complex, but the lone artist who called attention to this crisis has been captured.

A little more than a week ago, residents of the small city outside Denver awoke to a frightening and confusing sight.

There, affixed to a pole, was a yellow "crossing" sign with the legend "Caution: Kamala's Illegals."

Above it, another sign: "Blacks must sit at the back of the bus / Kamala's migrants sit in the front."

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This was not an isolated occurrence. Far from it. Copies of the signs — as many as six, according to some reports — had been placed at various intervals over a few city blocks.

The craftsmanship was fiendishly skilled, designed to fool passersby into mistaking these placards for official municipal issue, at least for those first few innocent seconds before fully registering the horror: These were no street signs. These were hate signs.

The evidence pointed to one man: the enigmatic street artist Sabo. Authorities launched a massive manhunt.

Thursday, officers from both the Aurora and Denver police departments staged a daring daylight raid of Sabo's Aurora residence, knocking on the door and handing him a ticket for violating Denver municipal code 3-1, "posting on public/private property."

They declined to press any hate crime charges.

"I guess they have the resources to send both departments after me," Sabo told Align. "I have a court date," he added.

Those who feel moved by Sabo's plight no doubt wonder how they can help. Loot a Target? Set a garbage truck on fire? Cordon off the local playground and declare it an autonomous zone? All great ideas, but Sabo respectfully requests that you stand down and stand by.

However, donations are always appreciated. Or you could purchase one of Sabo's fine, affordable protest artworks.

Just be careful where you display it.

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