Twitter Files: Elon Musk Fires Top Legal Executive For 'Possible Role' In Suppression Of Free Speech

Twitter CEO Elon Musk tweeted about firing Baker in response to a post by journalist Matt Taibbi in which he raised concerns over his role in information suppression under the previous management  

Twitter Files: Elon Musk Fires Top Legal Executive For 'Possible Role' In Suppression Of Free Speech

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Twitter CEO Elon Musk sacked deputy general counsel James Baker over concerns about his role in information suppression under the previous management. Musk tweeted about firing Baker while responding to journalist Matt Taibbi's post on a supplemental note to his original "Twitter Files" thread in which he accused Baker of allegedly vetting the information before it was passed along without informing Twitter's new management.

"In light of concerns about (James) Baker's possible role in suppression of information important to the public dialogue, he was exited from Twitter today," Musk wrote on Tuesday.

In light of concerns about Baker’s possible role in suppression of information important to the public dialogue, he was exited from Twitter today

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 6, 2022

When asked if Baker, a former FBI general counsel, was given a chance to explain himself before the firing, Musk wrote: “Yes. His explanation was . . . unconvincing.” 

Yes. His explanation was …unconvincing.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 6, 2022

Last week, journalist Matt Taibbi in collaboration with Musk published "Twitter Files". These set of documents were mainly Twitter's internal communications to disclose links with political actors and with a focus on how the social network blocked stories related to Hunter Biden's laptop in the lead-up to the 2020 US Presidential election, reported news agency ANI.

The published files alleged that the previous Twitter management took steps to suppress reporting regarding Hunter Biden's laptop ahead of the 2020 US Presidential Election.

According to the Twitter Files, Twitter deputy general counsel Baker played a role in the discussion about whether the laptop story fell under Twitter's "hacked materials" policy.

"I support the conclusion that we need more facts to assess whether the materials were hacked," the documents published by Taibbi cited Baker as saying in one of the emails. "At this stage, however, it's reasonable for us to assume that they may have been and that caution is warranted."

The latest firing comes after Musk fired higher management, including CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal, chief legal officer Vijaya Gadde, and general counsel Sean Edgett.