Republican House Judiciary chairman Jim Jordan on Tuesday opened an investigation into the U.S. Department of Justice's arrest and treatment of Blaze News investigative journalist Steve Baker over his coverage of events that transpired on Jan. 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol.

Independent journalist Breanna Morello posted Jordan's scathing letter to Matthew Graves, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, which is dated March 12:

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What does the letter say?

Jordan's letter outlines "serious concerns" about the DOJ's "selective prosecution" concerning Baker's March 1 arrest in Dallas "as well as the Department's commitments to the First Amendment rights of journalists."

The letter notes that other journalists who were in the Capitol on Jan. 6 haven't been charged, yet the DOJ still decided to charge Baker, who was critical of federal investigations and prosecutions related to Jan. 6.

The letter also cites Baker's attorney, who noted that the DOJ "is not allowed to decide what press coverage it likes and what press coverage offends it and take prosecutorial action based on those judgments."

In addition, the letter states that it appears the DOJ "deviated from practice" by indicting Baker "when he voluntarily surrendered" and "subjected him to formal arrest — that is, the FBI fingerprinted, photographed, handcuffed, and placed Mr. Baker in the back of an FBI vehicle, transported him to the courthouse, and brought him before the magistrate judge in a 'belly chain, box cuffs, and leg shackles.'"

The letter also states that Baker's attorney, over a long career, never before saw the FBI do this to others charged with misdemeanors.

"This conduct smacks of harassment and selective treatment for a disfavored criminal defendant," the letter also states, adding that it appears the DOJ has violated its "mission of equal justice under the law" and that its conduct "criminalizes politics and weaponizes the administration of justice."

What's more, the letter criticizes the administration of President Joe Biden, noting concerns over its "commitment to equal application of the law."

Democrat U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler (N.Y.), the committee's ranking member, was copied on the letter.

What is Jordan demanding?

In his letter, Jordan demanded that Graves produce the following no later than 5 p.m. March 26:

• All documents and communications regarding Baker's arrest;
• All documents and communications regarding any investigation, prosecution, and arrest of any other journalist covering Jan. 6;
• All documents and communications related to the DOJ's determination to request pretrial detention of defendants charged in connection with Jan. 6 — plus those who are now or who have been in pretrial detention related to Jan. 6.

Jordan's letter concludes by reminding Graves that the Judiciary Committee has "jurisdiction to oversee" the DOJ regarding matters "related to civil liberties."

What is the early reaction?

Baker, in a Tuesday night statement to Blaze News, said the following:

"Breanna Morello’s advocacy for the innocent and the overcharged, over-persecuted January 6 defendants is tireless and without peer. What we see from her publicly is only a fraction of what she does behind the scenes.

“I want to thank Rep. Jim Jordan for not only recognizing my struggle but also for demanding full transparency in the DOJ’s prosecution of all J6 cases. I’m blessed by the platform I've been given, but I intend to use this attention to shine a light on all those who have been unfairly treated by the unprecedented weaponization of the DOJ, their double standards, and the selective prosecution being wielded against J6 defendants.”

Blaze Media editor in chief Matthew Peterson added the following statement to Blaze News:

"All Americans should welcome this investigation. As Congressman Jordan indicates, what is at stake here is the American principle of equal justice under the law. This is not a partisan issue: if the Department of Justice is allowed to selectively target journalists who criticize it, the freedom of the press will be lost, and the slow death of journalism in America will be complete.

"Although he was not working for us at the time, Baker has nothing to hide: we have made the video of his time in the Capitol on January 6^thpublic so all Americans can judge for themselves. Likewise, the American people deserve to know the truth about how and why the Department of Justice decided to treat Steve Baker as a criminal."

This is a developing, breaking news story and will be updated accordingly.

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