In February, Ed Martin, serving as the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, encountered a group of roughly ten young prosecutors preparing to depart, carrying framed diplomas and mementos.
With a lighthearted tone, Martin asked, “What’s happening here?” seemingly unaware that these prosecutors had just been dismissed as part of a broader staff overhaul.
This group included about two dozen attorneys assigned under the current administration to prosecute individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack—an action overseen by Martin himself.
A conservative Republican and political operative from Missouri, Martin was nominated by former President Trump to permanently lead the U.S. attorney’s office, largely due to his outspoken support for those charged in connection with the January 6 events. Utilizing his authority, Martin has pursued investigations targeting Democrats, academic institutions, and critics of Elon Musk, while actively working to undermine the official inquiry into the Capitol riot.
Following internal discussions within the White House, the former president withdrew Martin’s nomination, indicating that another candidate would be forthcoming.
Martin’s nomination was effectively halted after Senator Thom Tillis, a prominent Republican on the Judiciary Committee, announced his opposition due to Martin’s handling of Jan. 6-related prosecutions. This left the committee evenly split, with all Democrats opposing the nomination, and Republican leaders declining to pursue procedural tactics to advance it.
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