Federal authorities have arrested a self-described anarchist on charges related to his alleged attempt to recruit the “like-minded” to violently disrupt the expected gathering by supporters of President Trump at the Florida Capitol through Inauguration Day.
The accused is Daniel Alan Baker, described in a 27-page criminal complaint as a former Army airborne infantryman who recently “has been posting messages and multimedia to his Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube accounts that have been increasingly ripe with extremist rhetoric.”
“Baker issued a call to arms for like-minded individuals to violently confront protesters gathered at the Florida Capitol this Sunday. He specifically called for others to join him in encircling any protestors and confining them at the Capitol complex using firearms,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida said in a press release.
“Extremists intent on violence from either end of the political and social spectrums must be stopped, and they will be stopped,” U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe said in a written statement.
“Daniel Baker’s actions show that he is a dangerous extremist, and the law-abiding public is safer now that he has been arrested. We are, and will remain, on high alert and will take all appropriate actions against credible threats to the people of our district,” he said.
The arrest came as Florida’s capital city nervously awaits threatened violent protests leading to Democrat Joe Biden’s inauguration next Wednesday by supporters of Donald Trump. State leaders have urged Capitol-area employees to work from home at least through the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared that the state will be ready for trouble. Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey called upon the governor on Friday to make sure of it.
“I am hopeful that we don’t experience any violence in the capital city this weekend or next week, but hope is not a plan. That is why I am requesting that Governor DeSantis deploy the National Guard to protect the Florida state Capitol,” Dailey said Friday on Twitter.
FBI agents arrested Baker without incident at his Tallahassee home Friday morning with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Tallahassee Police Department, the office said.
The government’s evidence showed “a fair probability for imminent violence,” the complaint says.
That document describes an erratic career for Baker since 2007, when he went AWOL from his Army Airborne unit as it prepared to ship out for Iraq. He received a less-than-honorable discharge and spent 2008 through 2017 homeless and unemployed in the Tallahassee area, although he reportedly worked part time as a security guard.
“In 2017, Baker joined the People’s Protection Units (“YPG”), a group fighting in against ISIS and the Turkish government. The YPG is a subaffilliate of Kurdistan’s Working Party (PKK), which has been designated a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) by the United States government. Baker endorses himself on his social media as a trained sniper for the YPG,” the complaint says.
He acknowledged providing the training in interviews with FBI agents and “overseas sources” told the agency that he’d planned to kidnap Turkish pilots training in the United States and mutilate or kill them, the complaint says.
He also participated in violence around Black Lives Matter protests over the summer in Seattle and Nashville, the document says.
In November, he set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to enroll in emergency medical technician training at Tallahassee Community College and warned: “I swear on god y’all if I can’t raise this money I will start robbing the rich and pedophiles too,” according to the complaint.
“Baker continues to threaten the use of violence in the United States and has made multiple threats to those who he claims to be white supremacists, fascists, and United States persons with different ideologies than his, and allies of the United States. Baker has promoted the killing of United States military officers, In addition, Baker informed his followers on social media to prepare for war,” the complaint says.
The document alleges that Baker owns weapons and has attempted to gather more in recent weeks.
On Jan. 8, two days after the U.S. Capitol attack, Baker offered a cash reward for the people who attacked an AP journalist. “We have decided to handle this ourselves because the dc cops let them in and all cops are infiltrated,” he posted, according to the complaint.
The complaint also cites an online posting on Thursday titled, “Call to Arms January 20th!”
“We need all Florida residents to rise up! Here in Florida we must encircle terrorists who attack the Capitol! We will protect capital residents and civilians from armed racist mobs with every caliber available. This is an armed coup and can only be stopped by an armed community!” it said.
–Michael Moline, Florida Phoenix
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Mike Cocchiola says
Armed domestic terrorists protecting us from other armed domestic terrorists. This gets more insane every day.
James M. Mejuto says
re: FBI Arrests: I don’t care which cornfield you grew-up in, there is no excuse and no legal
tolerance for violence. Armed forces veterans should have known better.
Susan Grine says
I agree. As far as all of those who were involved in the jan 6th events need to step down from office like hawley, Graham, Cruz, Rubio just to mention a few. We also need not put our guard down with what China is planning. We all need to be very vigilant now and in the coming months. I also think china should be held accountable for unleashing such a deadly virus. People in America, you all need to wake up.
John the Baptist says
With any luck, maybe the FDLE or the FBI will come for Joe Mullins! One can only pray. While Joe talks the talk, he is a coward by nature and would probably pee in his panties if the FBI ever showed up at his door.
Skibum says
First of all, I believe extremists on both sides of the political spectrum should definitely be arrested and held equally accountable for their criminal acts whether they are involved in left wing or right wing threats of violence. Having said that however, I think it is kind of telling that this well publicized arrest is the ONLY one here in Florida despite all of the other well publicized right wing rhetoric, even from some of the GOP’s elected officials, supporting the incited violence at the U.S. Capitol that resulted from Trump’s own words and the words of other GOP politicians. We have heard from state officials that GOP supported, right wing extremist groups were planning on marching to the state capital in Tallahassee, but there seems to be no evidence that these extremists planned any violence? I find that a little hard to believe after witnessing what happened last week in Washington, D.C. And after retiring from my career in law enforcement, I can believe the reports that there are some in the law enforcement profession who have been complicit in either their involvement or simply looking the other way when it comes to the conservative right wing extremists, as opposed to the left wing “liberal” extremists that they round up and arrest at the earliest provocation… if they are lucky enough not to get gassed or shot first. I think this is something that has to be addressed in this country because we are seeing a dramatic and scary increase in the amount of conservative right wing domestic terrorism all over the U.S. in recent years, and it will only get worse if they are not held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Susan Grine says
I I do agree all those people that incited this right on January 6th including two senators including Mitch McConnell Lindsey Graham all should be arrested no questions asked and put in the jail plain and simple stop wasting taxpayers money by having a trial or impeachment or other things just put them arrest them in handcuffs and take them away because if it was a regular resident you’re right there would be no questions asked to be hauled away in Hancock’s they deserve to get the same treatment as a regular average citizen period enough is enough
Jason B says
It’s amazing how quiet the pro-Trump faction has gotten lately. I’d like to believe they’re engaged in thoughtful introspection, trying to come to terms with the notion that they were misled (lied to) by Narcissistic wanna-be dictator … but it’s more likely they’re over at another place, hanging out with their fellow secessionists, planning their next round of violence.
Agkistrodon says
This is what your rhetoric for those who vote unlike you, fully exercising their own rights, breeds. Just as there is bat crap crazies on the fringe right, so there are on the fringe left. Maybe you all could call for some more “re-education” of Republican voters. See what that gets you. As a Libertarian I am absolutely appalled at the actions of those on BOTH sides of the aisle, and so glad I spilled my blood in career service to this country, so that those who have only served themselves can rip the country apart politically, and applaud the censorship of anyone who doesn’t speak the , “accepted” speech. Very sad state of affairs. Hard to bring people together when some are calling for “re-education” and such. Keep it up, you will have a whole lot more of like minded crazies, who should be locked away, regardless of their party.
Sherry says
While the term “re-education” is offensive. . . we ALL need to base our life perspective and decision making on “researched, credible FACTS”.
Studies reveal that 50% of Americans get their news from the often hate filled “GOSSIP” on “Social Media”. While “professional journalists” from the majority of major news outlets are required to “FACT check” the articles they write and the information they present, social media platforms have no such mandate.
We now live every moment of our lives in a “sea of lies”. . . which makes it even more VITAL that we seek out the FACTS and TRUTH. We can begin with admitting that even the president of the United States lied to us “thousands” of times. . . this is a FACT that has been researched and proven many, many times over. Those that still continue to passionately believe those lies need our compassionate help in seeking honesty, in seeking truth, in seeking their own independent minds, in seeking their lost moral compass, in finding a courageous renewed belief in their own intuitive conscience.
Let us move forward away from fear and hate, and endeavor to use “FACTS” to seek a common American truth, together.
Agkistrodon says
BUSH lied, Clinton Lied, Obama Lied. It’s what they do, but you only see when one party lies, I see the lies of both parties, and they disgust me, and you continue trying to get your moral high ground. Reality is based on perception, and everyone’s perception is different therefore reality is fluid. Kinda like many people’s viewpoint of gender……
James M. Mejuto says
I don’t know where you come from but “reality” is not based on “perception’ rather on fact, on what is happening at that moment not what someone perceives as fact.
Stop trying to be a philosopher . . . you don’t carry it off, well !
Sherry says
Thank you for pointing out what should be the obvious “TRUTH”, James. Unfortunately many of those who have been radicalized into the world of “alternative facts” are steadfastly committed to believing the “Big Lie” about the election and many other things.
My prayer is that those who still maintain some degree of independent thinking will themselves do the work of seeking “credible FACTS” directly from scientists like Dr. Fauci . . . who is now allowed to speak without trump limitations. “Credible FACTS” from news outlets like the “Associated Press” and “PBS” and the “BBC”. . . and, to use “critical thinking” to move away from the fear and hate mongering “propaganda” often seen on FOX and blasted by those like Rush Limbaugh and mirrored all over social media.
I miss having caring, loving neighbors and a safe, peaceful community. These are terrible times, filled with much suffering all around us. Can we not as human souls come together in HONESTY, peace and love to create a better future for all?
Agkistrodon says
Alternative facts, like males being females and Visa versa right, that’s science…..as you said, perception is not reality, and the reality is sex is determined by nature, not perception.
Bones says
Daniel Baker shouldn’t be sitting in prison for tweets and social media posts. Read the criminal complaint; amidst the thirty-something pages of character assassinations and memes—that’s all the criminal complaint alleges. Dan Baker shouldn’t be in prison for social media posts.