diff --git a/synapse/federation/federation_base.py b/synapse/federation/federation_base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d26a2396ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/synapse/federation/federation_base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2015 OpenMarket Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+
+from twisted.internet import defer
+
+from synapse.events.utils import prune_event, old_prune_event
+
+from syutil.jsonutil import encode_canonical_json
+
+from synapse.crypto.event_signing import check_event_content_hash
+
+from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError
+
+import logging
+
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class FederationBase(object):
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def _check_sigs_and_hash_and_fetch(self, origin, pdus, outlier=False):
+        """Takes a list of PDUs and checks the signatures and hashs of each
+        one. If a PDU fails its signature check then we check if we have it in
+        the database and if not then request if from the originating server of
+        that PDU.
+
+        If a PDU fails its content hash check then it is redacted.
+
+        The given list of PDUs are not modified, instead the function returns
+        a new list.
+
+        Args:
+            pdu (list)
+            outlier (bool)
+
+        Returns:
+            Deferred : A list of PDUs that have valid signatures and hashes.
+        """
+        signed_pdus = []
+        for pdu in pdus:
+            try:
+                new_pdu = yield self._check_sigs_and_hash(pdu)
+                signed_pdus.append(new_pdu)
+            except SynapseError:
+                # FIXME: We should handle signature failures more gracefully.
+
+                # Check local db.
+                new_pdu = yield self.store.get_event(
+                    pdu.event_id,
+                    allow_rejected=True
+                )
+                if new_pdu:
+                    signed_pdus.append(new_pdu)
+                    continue
+
+                # Check pdu.origin
+                if pdu.origin != origin:
+                    new_pdu = yield self.get_pdu(
+                        destinations=[pdu.origin],
+                        event_id=pdu.event_id,
+                        outlier=outlier,
+                    )
+
+                    if new_pdu:
+                        signed_pdus.append(new_pdu)
+                        continue
+
+                logger.warn("Failed to find copy of %s with valid signature")
+
+        defer.returnValue(signed_pdus)
+
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def _check_sigs_and_hash(self, pdu):
+        """Throws a SynapseError if the PDU does not have the correct
+        signatures.
+
+        Returns:
+            FrozenEvent: Either the given event or it redacted if it failed the
+            content hash check.
+        """
+        # Check signatures are correct.
+        redacted_event = prune_event(pdu)
+        redacted_pdu_json = redacted_event.get_pdu_json()
+
+        old_redacted = old_prune_event(pdu)
+        old_redacted_pdu_json = old_redacted.get_pdu_json()
+
+        try:
+            try:
+                yield self.keyring.verify_json_for_server(
+                    pdu.origin, old_redacted_pdu_json
+                )
+            except SynapseError:
+                yield self.keyring.verify_json_for_server(
+                    pdu.origin, redacted_pdu_json
+                )
+        except SynapseError:
+            logger.warn(
+                "Signature check failed for %s redacted to %s",
+                encode_canonical_json(pdu.get_pdu_json()),
+                encode_canonical_json(redacted_pdu_json),
+            )
+            raise
+
+        if not check_event_content_hash(pdu):
+            logger.warn(
+                "Event content has been tampered, redacting %s, %s",
+                pdu.event_id, encode_canonical_json(pdu.get_dict())
+            )
+            defer.returnValue(redacted_event)
+
+        defer.returnValue(pdu)
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