WASHINGTON — Ed Martin, a conservative activist known for championing Donald Trump’s unfounded assertions regarding a stolen 2020 election, has taken the lead as interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Previously, he criticized the prosecutions of the individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and represented several of them legally. Now, in his new role, he has begun to reshape the office responsible for prosecuting nearly 1,600 individuals charged in connection with the Capitol riot, coinciding with a significant transition in federal oversight as Trump assumes the presidency once again.
During his inaugural week, Martin enacted substantial changes impacting the workforce of the U.S. attorney’s office. He facilitated the dismissal of numerous January 6 cases and praised Trump for pardoning various police officers and anti-abortion advocates previously prosecuted by the office. Additionally, Martin initiated an internal review concerning the felony charges filed against many Capitol rioters, instructing staff to submit relevant emails, documents, and files as outlined in an email disclosed to the media.
Martin’s appointment (previously the head of the Missouri Republican Party) illustrates Trump’s intention to install loyal supporters within critical roles at the Justice Department. The former president has publicly alleged that the Biden administration has weaponized the department against him and his followers. Mike Davis, a Trump ally, lauded Martin in a social media post as a decisive leader ready to “clean house” at what he described as a core site of political persecution.
In a communication to staff, Martin noted his presence in the Oval Office during Trump’s announcement of clemency for two Washington police officers involved in a controversial incident. In a recent social media message, he appeared to assert that federal prosecutors function as “the President’s lawyers.” Alexis Loeb, a former deputy chief in the office that prosecuted January 6 cases, expressed concern that Martin seems to be focused more on fulfilling political agendas rather than safeguarding public safety in Washington.
It remains uncertain whether Trump will nominate Martin for a permanent appointment, which would necessitate Senate approval. A spokesperson from the White House has not yet addressed inquiries concerning Martin’s situation. Although the U.S. attorney’s office declined to make Martin available for comment, he expressed gratitude to Trump in an official statement for the opportunity to aid in restoring order to Washington.
Following Trump’s extensive clemency decision, Martin’s name surfaced in various court motions aiming to dismiss ongoing January 6 prosecutions, including cases involving assaults against police officers. Recently, prosecutors were instructed to refer to Martin as “U.S. Attorney Ed Martin” in legal documents, as some had initially labeled him “acting” U.S. attorney.
A week later, Martin declared a “special project” to scrutinize the application of an obstruction felony charge used against numerous Capitol riot defendants. Many obstruction charges were dismissed after a Supreme Court decision last year tightened the criteria for such offenses. Martin labeled the application of these charges as “a great failure of our office” and directed attorneys to submit all pertinent files to supervisors for review, with an initial report due shortly. This undertaking has been dubbed the “1512 Project,” referencing the relevant section of the statute.
Trump’s clemency led to the release of over 200 individuals, which includes those caught on camera engaging in violent confrontations with police. This action has sparked controversy, with some officials like Vice President JD Vance defending the pardons while implying that the defendants were stripped of their constitutional rights without substantiating such claims. Ashley Akers, a former prosecutor of January 6 cases, countered that Vance’s statements were misleading and failed to present any evidence of constitutional violations by defendants.
Following the clemency order, Martin urged a judge to ease restrictions on certain pardoned defendants such as Stewart Rhodes, the Oath Keepers founder. Martin argued that if pardoned individuals from the previous administration faced similar restrictions, it would draw public disapproval. In a recent ruling, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta agreed that these individuals with reduced sentences are no longer bound by earlier travel limitations.
Martin had previously participated in a “Stop the Steal” rally the day before the Capitol riot and was affiliated with the Patriot Freedom Project, which sought to provide financial aid to January 6 defendants. Notably, he represented some rioters in court and was vocal in his opposition to the election results. The day of the riot, he posted on social media, minimizing the chaos at the Capitol, suggesting that the scene was not as serious as others portrayed it.
On his blog, Martin has echoed Trump’s narrative regarding an allegedly politicized Justice Department and the events surrounding January 6, asserting he has examined extensive footage from that day. He controversially claimed that the majority of the events involved ordinary citizens engaging in typical activities within the Capitol.
