Trump drops ‘Stop the Steal’ controversial DC attorney pick Ed Martin

President Donald Trump has withdrawn his nomination of Ed Martin for the position of U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia after facing strong opposition in the Senate and increasing scrutiny of Martin’s past behavior. Martin, a strong supporter of Trump and an active member of the “Stop the Steal” movement, was criticized for his role in events following the January 6th Capitol riot.

His history of legal disputes, and concerns about his temperament and commitment to the rule of law. His 15 weeks as interim U.S. Attorney were filled with controversy, which eventually led to his replacement. Trump’s final statement praised Martin’s abilities but acknowledged that the decision to withdraw the nomination was unavoidable. The President said, “I just want to say Ed is unbelievable. And hopefully we can bring him in too, whether it’s DOJ or whatever, in some capacity,” per The Washington Post.

While President Trump initially gave only lukewarm support for Martin’s nomination, stating that senators had the right to vote as they saw fit, the growing evidence of Martin’s past behavior became too damaging to ignore. Senator Thom Tillis openly opposed the nomination due to Martin’s views on the January 6 riot, while other senators questioned his judgment and character based on his past actions and associations.

Ed Martin no longer DC’s pick for attorney

Martin’s career has been defined by his involvement in well-known conservative causes, often alongside legal and ethical issues. He has worked for the St. Louis election board and in the Missouri governor’s office, and he served as President of the Eagle Forum, the group founded by Phyllis Schlafly. These roles were marked by multiple legal conflicts, including lawsuits accusing him of wrongful termination, defamation, and contempt of court.

One particularly damaging case was a long-running dispute with the Eagle Forum after he was removed as President. Martin refused to hand over control of the organization’s assets and tried to improperly influence a judge overseeing the case, leading to a contempt ruling and heavy financial penalties. Critics pointed to this as an example of his tendency to ignore court orders and legal standards when they got in the way of his political agenda.

A similar disregard for rules emerged in Missouri when, as chief of staff to Governor Matt Blunt, Martin was involved in a scandal over the improper handling of government emails. This cost the state significant legal fees and further revealed his approach to transparency and accountability.

Martin’s participation in the “Stop the Steal” movement and his legal representation of several January 6 defendants deepened concerns among senators. His public support for Trump’s claims of election fraud and his comparison of the January 6 defendants’ situation to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II drew criticism from both Republicans and Democrats.

Additionally, his ties to individuals described as Nazi sympathizers and his decision to fire more than two dozen prosecutors working on January 6 cases raised serious doubts about his fairness and judgment.