A Florida man, Daniel Baker of Tallahassee, was found guilty of making threats and inciting violence at the Florida Capitol. Baker was arrested in January after posting a “call to arms” on social media, encouraging followers to violently confront protestors outside the Florida Capitol on Inauguration Day.
Baker argued his threats were not real and were “jokes,” but the 12-member jury found him guilty in just over one day of deliberation.
Baker was described as “anti-police,” “anti-Trump,” and a “leftist” according to court documents. The FBI had been following him on social media since October, noting his concerning posts and threats.
One of Baker’s Facebook posts contained an event entitled “DEFEND TALLAHASSEE,” which prosecutors held could be seen as a reasonable threat.
Daniel Baker continued by saying on social media “This is an armed COUP and can only be stopped by an armed community! If you’re afraid to die fighting the enemy, stay in bed and live,” referencing the January 6th incident at the U.S. Capitol.
On President Joe Biden’s Inauguration Day, state capitols across the country were on high alert after many received word of protests against Biden’s inauguration, and the possibility of those protests to turn violent. It was said Baker was planning to surround protestors, who were supportive of former President Donald Trump, with guns. However, no protests took place at the Florida Capitol.
“The free exercise of speech is central to our democracy,” acting U.S. Attorney Coody said in a news release. “However, the defendant’s threats of armed violence to inhibit expression of political views different than his own are both unlawful and dangerous.”
Daniel Baker was a former member of the U.S. Army, but was kicked out in 2007 for going AWOL before his deployment to Iraq. An FBI affidavit said Baker was homeless and unemployed for most of the time since his “other-than-honorable discharge.”
He is facing up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at the Florida Capital Star and the Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
Photo “Florida Senate Capitol” by Michael Rivera CC 3.0.
