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The Fall of the FBI: How a Once Great Agency Became a Threat to Democracy
An FBI veteran explains how the Mueller–Comey cabal turned the FBI from a “swear to tell the truth” law-enforcement agency to a politicized intelligence organization.
Americans have lost faith in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an institution they once regarded as the world’s greatest law-enforcement agency. Thomas Baker spent many years with the FBI and is deeply troubled by this loss of faith. Specific lapses have come to light and each is thoroughly discussed in this Why did they happen? What changed? The answer begins days after the 9/11 attacks when the FBI underwent a significant change in culture.
To understand how far the Bureau has fallen, this book shows the crucial role played by the FBI and its agents in past decades. It was quite often, as the reader will see from these firsthand experiences, a fun-filled adventure with exciting skyjackings, kidnappings, and bank robberies. At the same time, the reader will see the reverence the Bureau had for the Constitution and the concern agents held for the rights of each American.
This book is not mere memoir—it is history. From the shooting of President Reagan and the death of Princess Diana to the TWA 800 crash and even getting marching orders from St. Mother Teresa, Baker’s story shows how the FBI has played a pivotal role in our country’s history.
Americans have lost faith in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an institution they once regarded as the world’s greatest law-enforcement agency. Thomas Baker spent many years with the FBI and is deeply troubled by this loss of faith. Specific lapses have come to light and each is thoroughly discussed in this Why did they happen? What changed? The answer begins days after the 9/11 attacks when the FBI underwent a significant change in culture.
To understand how far the Bureau has fallen, this book shows the crucial role played by the FBI and its agents in past decades. It was quite often, as the reader will see from these firsthand experiences, a fun-filled adventure with exciting skyjackings, kidnappings, and bank robberies. At the same time, the reader will see the reverence the Bureau had for the Constitution and the concern agents held for the rights of each American.
This book is not mere memoir—it is history. From the shooting of President Reagan and the death of Princess Diana to the TWA 800 crash and even getting marching orders from St. Mother Teresa, Baker’s story shows how the FBI has played a pivotal role in our country’s history.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
368 pages, Hardcover
Published December 6, 2022
46 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 10, 2023
As a former trial attorney with the Department of Justice, I looked forward to reading this book. James Baker is a former Special Agent who held a number of high-level positions with the FBI, which operates as an arm of DOJ. However, only the last 25% of the book is devoted to problems with the Bureau and its culture. The first 3/4 contains chapters detailing various cases and positions Baker worked on and held at the FBI. Some were interesting, such as the assassination attempt on President Reagan, and some were incredibly boring. Also, there is no continuity in the timeline of these vignettes. The author jumps back and forth in time. That made for difficult reading. For that reason, three stars.
Only the latter 25% of the book details the recent failings of the FBI and proposes a solution. Baker correctly identifies the problem as Robert Mueller’s shifting the FBI focus from criminal investigation to intelligence gathering. That took place immediately after 9-11. Mueller also brought major investigations under the control of headquarters, rather than the field offices. These changes allowed a shift in culture of the FBI that resulted in the abuses of the agency attempting to influence the 2016 presidential election and then ongoing attempts to undermine the Trump presidency. Most of these abuses occurred under the watch of James Comey as Director, and Baker lays the blame largely on Comey’s shoulders. Abuses included opening cases without proper predicates, contrary to FBI and Attorney General guidelines, and allowing a culture of rank partisanship in high-level FBI officials (Peter Strzok and Andrew McCabe among them).
Baker suggests various reforms, including reforms over the FISA process, better congressional oversight, and he urges a shift back to a law enforcement focus. Problem is, the abuses continue. Director Wray continues to attempt to thwart congressional oversight, and the release of the Twitter Files demonstrate attempts by the FBI to work with Twitter (and likely also Facebook, Google and YouTube) to silence online discussions on certain topics. The FBI is an out of control agency and major reforms are needed. In my opinion, Baker’s recommendations don’t go far enough.
Only the latter 25% of the book details the recent failings of the FBI and proposes a solution. Baker correctly identifies the problem as Robert Mueller’s shifting the FBI focus from criminal investigation to intelligence gathering. That took place immediately after 9-11. Mueller also brought major investigations under the control of headquarters, rather than the field offices. These changes allowed a shift in culture of the FBI that resulted in the abuses of the agency attempting to influence the 2016 presidential election and then ongoing attempts to undermine the Trump presidency. Most of these abuses occurred under the watch of James Comey as Director, and Baker lays the blame largely on Comey’s shoulders. Abuses included opening cases without proper predicates, contrary to FBI and Attorney General guidelines, and allowing a culture of rank partisanship in high-level FBI officials (Peter Strzok and Andrew McCabe among them).
Baker suggests various reforms, including reforms over the FISA process, better congressional oversight, and he urges a shift back to a law enforcement focus. Problem is, the abuses continue. Director Wray continues to attempt to thwart congressional oversight, and the release of the Twitter Files demonstrate attempts by the FBI to work with Twitter (and likely also Facebook, Google and YouTube) to silence online discussions on certain topics. The FBI is an out of control agency and major reforms are needed. In my opinion, Baker’s recommendations don’t go far enough.
December 10, 2022
Dark matter and energy make up 95% of the universe. That only leaves 5% for all the matter and energy we know and understand. That percentage is what the author understands. The author promotes the title of his book as “The Fall of the FBI: How a Once Great Agency Became a Threat to Democracy,” yet falls short on facts and balance, regurgitating spam and the dark political matter originating from media generalities.
The author obtained the Inspector General’s reports to smear agents of the FBI. He starts with reports on the impartial bad images of past cases of sexual misconduct, lack of supervision, etc. Unfortunately, he leaves out the factual findings of the IG report that have resulted in administrative adjustments. As a movie buff, he claims the book covers the good, the bad, and the ugly and spends much time on his career experiences, which would have been a good book. Untouched are directors Hoover, Webster, and Freeh, yet any researchers can find IG reports during their tenure.
I congratulate the author for his details of work and career with the FBI. However, he claims the culture and lack of adherence to the constitution by agents led him to his thesis. He is generous in claiming John Connolly, convicted of racketeering, obstruction of justice, and murder charges, as making mistakes, yet labels Jim Comey, Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok, and Lisa Paige with the slander of the right-wing media pundits. Unlike Connolly, none of the four have been prosecuted by the courts, though slandered by the media.
The inspector general report found that the Bureau’s actions fell short of what is expected from a premier law-enforcement agency. The author claims it is from acting as an intelligence agency rather than a law-enforcement agency and political bias. He is critical of Andrew McCabe for lack of deference to a flawed AG, Jeff Sessions. The author also should read “Hatchet Man” before placing Bill Barr on a pedestal. The author sides with General Flynn, an embarrassment to the history of the Flynn family, who lost his Constitutional oath to transfer power peacefully and was prosecuted and pardoned. Calling Trump an innocent man is absurd as everyone knows Trump has more character flaws than wrinkles on a Shar-pei puppy.
The author wants his readers to join the right-wing theorist that Republican-leaning Comey, McCabe, and Strzok went rogue against a Republican candidate without a predicate to initiate and follow leads. Russia is a constant threat. He brings comments into the book on Director Wray without understanding and only repeats political media redundancy as the repetition of restatements in this book. Mentioning an investigation on an agent who died on 9/11 is the slant of this book.
He leaves out AG Barr’s instructions to Special Prosecutor Mueller, Barr’s flippant summarization, and the documented findings within the Mueller Investigation. It is an insult to the many women and men of the FBI to claim “the reader will also see the reverence the Bureau had for the Constitution and the concern agents held for the rights of Americans. It was one’s the norm.” It is an imbalanced hypothesis of selective bias lacking cause, an outsider looking in. I want my money back. Light Matters.
The author obtained the Inspector General’s reports to smear agents of the FBI. He starts with reports on the impartial bad images of past cases of sexual misconduct, lack of supervision, etc. Unfortunately, he leaves out the factual findings of the IG report that have resulted in administrative adjustments. As a movie buff, he claims the book covers the good, the bad, and the ugly and spends much time on his career experiences, which would have been a good book. Untouched are directors Hoover, Webster, and Freeh, yet any researchers can find IG reports during their tenure.
I congratulate the author for his details of work and career with the FBI. However, he claims the culture and lack of adherence to the constitution by agents led him to his thesis. He is generous in claiming John Connolly, convicted of racketeering, obstruction of justice, and murder charges, as making mistakes, yet labels Jim Comey, Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok, and Lisa Paige with the slander of the right-wing media pundits. Unlike Connolly, none of the four have been prosecuted by the courts, though slandered by the media.
The inspector general report found that the Bureau’s actions fell short of what is expected from a premier law-enforcement agency. The author claims it is from acting as an intelligence agency rather than a law-enforcement agency and political bias. He is critical of Andrew McCabe for lack of deference to a flawed AG, Jeff Sessions. The author also should read “Hatchet Man” before placing Bill Barr on a pedestal. The author sides with General Flynn, an embarrassment to the history of the Flynn family, who lost his Constitutional oath to transfer power peacefully and was prosecuted and pardoned. Calling Trump an innocent man is absurd as everyone knows Trump has more character flaws than wrinkles on a Shar-pei puppy.
The author wants his readers to join the right-wing theorist that Republican-leaning Comey, McCabe, and Strzok went rogue against a Republican candidate without a predicate to initiate and follow leads. Russia is a constant threat. He brings comments into the book on Director Wray without understanding and only repeats political media redundancy as the repetition of restatements in this book. Mentioning an investigation on an agent who died on 9/11 is the slant of this book.
He leaves out AG Barr’s instructions to Special Prosecutor Mueller, Barr’s flippant summarization, and the documented findings within the Mueller Investigation. It is an insult to the many women and men of the FBI to claim “the reader will also see the reverence the Bureau had for the Constitution and the concern agents held for the rights of Americans. It was one’s the norm.” It is an imbalanced hypothesis of selective bias lacking cause, an outsider looking in. I want my money back. Light Matters.
December 11, 2022
More self-serving memoir than a “rise and fall” type narrative
December 18, 2022
Clarity
This puts into vivid much of the details lacking or still hidden. I still would like to know Brennan and Comey’s (cabal) motives beyond political? Can we expect more details and accountability from Durham? Hope so.
This puts into vivid much of the details lacking or still hidden. I still would like to know Brennan and Comey’s (cabal) motives beyond political? Can we expect more details and accountability from Durham? Hope so.
May 8, 2023
This was a good book, very informative. The author took a great deal of time telling the reader how the FBI is designed to work in being the cheif law enforcement agency in the United States. This was accomplished by telling stories of successful investigations and how career agents had behaved in solving various crimes. That background is very important to better understand what went wrong with the FBI over the past several year and why. Culture is a very important part of any institution and the author clearly showed that the culture of the FBI had changed for the bad.
In a very simple sense, there were just a few things that poisoned the FBI. The first, Robert Mueller hired some professionals from the private sector to serve as executives inside the FBI, rather than promoting agents from within. Second, President Obama appointed James Comey as Director of the FBI. Comey was not an agent that was promoted through the ranks of the FBi, but rather, had obtained his legal experience through the private sector and the Department of Justice. Third, the FBI had migrated from a law enforcement agency towards an intelligence gathering agency. Fourth, investigations were consolidated within the national office of the FBI in Washington D.C., rather than keeping the lead investigative team at the field offices.
Take ways: (1) the investigation into the Trump Russia collusion had no predicate, it should not have been allowed. There was no such collusion. (2) There was no obstruction of justice by Trump during the investigation of him. (3) General Michael Flynn’s rights were violated by an investigation when he was unmasked. (4) FISA court warrants were obtained without proper predicate.
The author then devoted a few chapters to suggested reforms. All making good common sense.
In a very simple sense, there were just a few things that poisoned the FBI. The first, Robert Mueller hired some professionals from the private sector to serve as executives inside the FBI, rather than promoting agents from within. Second, President Obama appointed James Comey as Director of the FBI. Comey was not an agent that was promoted through the ranks of the FBi, but rather, had obtained his legal experience through the private sector and the Department of Justice. Third, the FBI had migrated from a law enforcement agency towards an intelligence gathering agency. Fourth, investigations were consolidated within the national office of the FBI in Washington D.C., rather than keeping the lead investigative team at the field offices.
Take ways: (1) the investigation into the Trump Russia collusion had no predicate, it should not have been allowed. There was no such collusion. (2) There was no obstruction of justice by Trump during the investigation of him. (3) General Michael Flynn’s rights were violated by an investigation when he was unmasked. (4) FISA court warrants were obtained without proper predicate.
The author then devoted a few chapters to suggested reforms. All making good common sense.
March 23, 2023
Neither fish nor fowl, Baker's book spend most of its length recounting his experiences through a long and very distinguished career at the Bureau, capped off by a denunciation of some of the greatest injustices he saw, and a final section on how the FBI has become politicized and what can be done to help correct that. Writing a memoir plus policy analysis is a tall order and the author is to be commended for taking it on himself and not having it ghosted. But frankly, the book could have used an experienced coauthor to reorganize, pare down, and stylistically buff-up the whole effort.
The narration of the cases is workmanlike, but manages to make most of the cases a bit dull and bureaucratic-sounding. There are exceptions, like the gripping account of a kidnapping with a buried-alive victim, but that one stands out to show the rest as diffuse and windy.
I bumped my rating up for his final chapter, because he has the courage to make specific policy proposals that would make it harder to use the FBI for domestic political smearjobs. If you want some specifics, it's worth considering.
The account of what went wrong that resulted in the dishonest and abusive effort against Trump is better presented in the books by Lee Smith and Dan Bongino, but Baker is direct and clear enough to convince this reader that the Russiagate effort was largely coordinated by McCabe at the Bureau and Brennan at CIA.
The narration of the cases is workmanlike, but manages to make most of the cases a bit dull and bureaucratic-sounding. There are exceptions, like the gripping account of a kidnapping with a buried-alive victim, but that one stands out to show the rest as diffuse and windy.
I bumped my rating up for his final chapter, because he has the courage to make specific policy proposals that would make it harder to use the FBI for domestic political smearjobs. If you want some specifics, it's worth considering.
The account of what went wrong that resulted in the dishonest and abusive effort against Trump is better presented in the books by Lee Smith and Dan Bongino, but Baker is direct and clear enough to convince this reader that the Russiagate effort was largely coordinated by McCabe at the Bureau and Brennan at CIA.
February 22, 2023
This was interesting but needs more attention to detail to be a better book. The author is a former FBI agent who clearly loves the agency and therefore threw a lot of softballs while telling us what he previewed to happen. Secondly, the author spent a considerable time as a liaison in France and driving a desk as an administrator. I doubt if he ever made an arrest or testified in a courtroom or before a grand jury. I’m a retired LE administrator who served in the trenches, made every conceivable type of arrest and commanded a major police department of several hundred officers including a good sized JTTF contingent. So I know the Bureau. How many of the phoney bosses there are and the disgraceful actions that went under the rug has destroyed the credibility, integrity and morale of a once great government organization. The bureau should be purged of all the corrupt politicians who have infiltrated it and remade. Comey, strozak and others should be held criminally liable for their actions I am no Trump fan but believe he got a raw deal by the corrupt government, media and FBI. This is a national embarrassment and disgrace ____Georgejohansen
September 30, 2023
The book is divided into three sections, which helps with the narrative of a great organization gone wrong. First, the Bureau Baker knew when he was a young and starry-eyed agent, then there's a middle section which hints at trouble to come but also includes vignettes from some of the major cases and events Baker had a major or tangential role in, whether Hinckley's assassination attempt on Reagan, Lockerbie, Diana's death in Paris, etc. As another reviewer commented, this drags down the narrative somewhat, but having dealt with LEGATs, it might be interesting for a reader to know more about their role overseas. The injustice dealt to some agents who fought organized crime including double dealing from corrupt prosecutors in that second section is a darker hint of what's to come. The third section, about FBI having gone down the path of intelligence rather than law enforcement, will be what most readers expect from the title. If you are new to the subject, you'll learn a lot about FBI. But you are left wondering how to find our way back from a politicized FBI. It's a good read overall.
May 5, 2024
The first two parts are good-ish, informative, if a bit redundant and repetitive. (Did you see what I did there? I crack myself up.) A career FBI agent, bureaucrat, and private consultant, Baker is a bit tiresome and has never seen a rule he didn’t want to follow. I’m no fan of Comey (sp) but Baker claims he is the worst thing to have ever happened to the FBI. Seriously? He’s the worst you can think of when you look back over the FBI’s checkered past? That was probably when he lost me. He did love AG Barr. Doesn’t seem to like any Dems. He also doesn’t care for Robert Muller (sp). He has a high view of his own opinion. If only someone would just listen to him.
I appreciate Baker’s service. I really do. But this book is an apology for the ‘old’ FBI. If only we could go back to the 50’s, or even the 70’s. SMH.
I appreciate Baker’s service. I really do. But this book is an apology for the ‘old’ FBI. If only we could go back to the 50’s, or even the 70’s. SMH.
June 21, 2023
The Fall of the FBI: How a Once Great Agency Became a Threat to Democracy
Thomas J. Baker
Agent Baker provides a comprehensive and compelling view into how our Federal law enforcement has been perverted by political forces.
He tells some very interesting and enjoyable stories about FBI cases before the fall. Although if you are one of the naive rube detectives from flyover country in Tulsa (like me) you will have to take some portions with a grain of salt.
I find his analysis of the few political admin types who destroyed the FBI’s reputation insightful and educational however. I hope he is correct in his belief that the historic agency can be rescued.
Thomas J. Baker
Agent Baker provides a comprehensive and compelling view into how our Federal law enforcement has been perverted by political forces.
He tells some very interesting and enjoyable stories about FBI cases before the fall. Although if you are one of the naive rube detectives from flyover country in Tulsa (like me) you will have to take some portions with a grain of salt.
I find his analysis of the few political admin types who destroyed the FBI’s reputation insightful and educational however. I hope he is correct in his belief that the historic agency can be rescued.
November 4, 2023
This book is confusing. First you think this ex FBI agent is ashamed of what they did to Trump and Flynn. He apologizes how the FBI acted. Then he takes a horrible turn by saying what a BUTT buddy he is with BILL BARR. That’s when you know this is a propaganda book! The book is trying to back pedal but shows true colors about bragging about how wonderful Bill fuck up Barr is.😡
The FBI is still rotten to the core. Biden has weaponized the FBI against Americans. Down with the Biden regime and the FBI!
The FBI is still rotten to the core. Biden has weaponized the FBI against Americans. Down with the Biden regime and the FBI!
January 21, 2023
a disgusting secret society, brought up by powerful white men to terrorize and kill at will any minority of the day: natives, blacks, latinos. the american kgb is, or at least according to baker was, a great agency. and baker fights so the same agency becomes great again. given they already have secret courts, and gag orders, baker is missing the killings.
September 6, 2023
First section was great. The middle section repeated itself often; it read like it was a bunch of published articles on the same topic. The last section, and throughout, assumed the reader knew things long before they were explained in the text, such as The Gang of Eight, which was mentioned often, but not defined until 16 pages before the end of the book.
September 18, 2025
If I’m honest, I wish I DNFed this book. I don’t really understand the point of it… some of the stories were interesting, but it really doesn’t provide any unique insight or perspective: I wouldn’t recommend it to literally anyone.
Nothing offensive or blatantly bad… but just annoyingly boring and a complete nothing-burger imho
Nothing offensive or blatantly bad… but just annoyingly boring and a complete nothing-burger imho
November 26, 2023
Very eye-
December 1, 2023
I used to dream about someday working at the FBI. Sadly, the culture has changed from law enforcement to intelligence driven. It needs to reverse course.
January 7, 2024
Three xtars because the book has too much repition and too many editing errors. While the main points are strong and well supported, the book is more like an expanded essay.
August 20, 2024
Fine, not really what I expected. Literally 3/4 of the book is a review of cases that he’s worked.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews