Retired FBI special agent Thomas Baker described the Trump administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files as a “public relations disaster” that could have been avoided with better communication and transparency. Baker, author of The Fall of the FBI, joined host Dan Proft to discuss lingering public distrust over the Epstein investigation, broader issues of government accountability, and the growing fallout from security lapses surrounding the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
Baker echoed Proft’s critique that Trump’s team—including Attorney General Pam Bondi and former DOJ officials—has failed to provide a clear explanation for why campaign-era promises to expose the full extent of Epstein’s alleged criminal network have not materialized. Baker noted that while some Trump allies now say Epstein’s death was conclusively a suicide, the administration never offered a comprehensive accounting to back that conclusion or clarify why deeper disclosures haven’t happened.
Adding to the confusion, Baker acknowledged that speculation surrounding Epstein’s possible ties to intelligence agencies like the CIA is “plausible.” He cited Epstein’s international lifestyle, frequent interactions with powerful figures, and potential as a source or operative as consistent with the type of individual the CIA might exploit for information. However, he emphasized that no such connection has been proven and much of the speculation stems from gaps in the official narrative.
Baker stressed that some Epstein materials may remain classified or withheld not for nefarious reasons but due to standard Department of Justice policy, which avoids publicly naming individuals who were investigated but never charged. Still, he agreed with Proft that officials could and should provide a more coherent explanation of the review process and decisions made—particularly in response to questions about individuals like Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted for trafficking girls without any co-conspirators being publicly named.
The conversation also turned to new developments in a criminal investigation reportedly targeting former intelligence chiefs James Comey and John Brennan. Baker expressed cautious optimism that the inquiry might validate claims made in his book, specifically that Brennan misled the public and Congress about the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation. While he conceded the passage of time may make prosecutions difficult, he underscored what he sees as a pattern of institutional abuse of authority at the highest levels of federal law enforcement and intelligence.
Finally, Baker weighed in on a damning Senate report about the July 2024 attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The report found serious breakdowns in Secret Service protocols, including the failure to share classified threat information and the lack of a unified command structure. Baker called the findings “beyond disgraceful” and “surprising,” particularly since the procedures that failed had been standard practice for decades.
He refuted the agency’s claim that no established process existed for sharing non-imminent threat information with local partners, saying such methods have been in place since the 1980s. Baker also criticized the absence of interoperable radio channels and a joint command center—both long-standing pillars of major event security planning.
Baker’s overarching message: whether addressing public mistrust around Epstein, seeking justice for abuses of power, or preventing future security catastrophes, government agencies must rediscover a culture of competence, candor, and accountability.