FBI’s Top Lawyer Said to Be Reassigned

The FBI’s top lawyer, James Baker, is being reassigned — one of the first moves by new director Christopher A. Wray to assemble his own team of senior advisers as he tries to fend off accusations of politicization within the bureau, reports The Washington Post.

Reporters Devlin Barrett, Ellen Nakashima and Carol Leonnig write:

Baker told colleagues he will be taking on other duties at the FBI, according to people familiar with the matter. In recent months, Baker had been caught up in a strange interagency dispute that led to a leak probe and attracted the attention of senior lawmakers, but people familiar with the matter said the probe had recently ended with a decision not to charge anyone. The leak issue had not played a part in Baker’s reassignment, these people said.

The report says Baker was close to former FBI director James B. Comey, who asked Baker to be his general counsel.

Read the Post article.