Trump's pick for top prosecutor in DC is testing Republican loyalty

[ad_1] WASHINGTON -- Most of President Donald Trump’s prime nominees have sailed by way of the Senate with little resistance. His decide to be the highest federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital may very well be an exception.

Ed Martin Jr., a conservative activist with modest authorized expertise who has defended rioters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is testing Republican occasion loyalties as a deadline approaches for the Senate to determine whether or not to increase or finish his transient however tumultuous tenure as chief of the nation’s largest U.S. Legal professional’s workplace.

Martin’s nomination faces vocal opposition from a whole bunch of veterans of the workplace that he's main on an interim foundation. Democrats try to tie up his affirmation vote. And Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee have stated they want extra time to overview his file.

There have been indicators of bother at a Judiciary assembly on Thursday as Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the highest Democrat on the panel, stated it was his understanding that committee chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, was going to announce “that we're not going to maneuver ahead on the Martin nomination.”

Grassley demurred, saying he would wait to speak about Martin till the committee scheduled a vote. However he stated he was nonetheless going by way of a whole bunch of questions that the committee had posed to Martin, including that a few of his workers “had extra questions” and wished to satisfy with him in individual.

It was hardly a ringing endorsement of Martin, who hasn’t spent a lot time in courtrooms however has been a loyal loyalist to Trump.

Inside days of taking workplace in January, Martin fired or demoted veteran attorneys who prosecuted Trump supporters for storming the U.S. Capitol. Earlier than his appointment, he represented and helped increase cash for Capitol riot defendants. He incessantly appeared on Russian state media to parrot Trump speaking factors. He even printed coloring books glorifying Trump's tweets.

Martin hasn’t responded to a number of Related Press interview requests since he took workplace in January, together with this week.

Martin just lately instructed NBC Washington that he's assured that Trump made the “proper resolution” in nominating him. He has touted his workplace's work tackling violent crime. And he has instructed lawmakers that his opinions gained’t affect his workplace selections.

“We now have to maintain the streets secure AND struggle for America on the world stage. Superb work and I'm blessed to serve Donald Trump on this means," Martin wrote in a Substack put up.

Any vote on Martin's nomination is sure to be cut up alongside occasion strains. However first, Democrats are calling for a uncommon listening to the place they will grill him.

The Judiciary panel historically doesn't maintain affirmation hearings for U.S. attorneys, counting on questionnaires as an alternative.

Even when the committee had been to approve Martin’s nomination, it might face obstacles on the Senate flooring. California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff positioned a maintain on the nomination, that means Republicans must spend a number of days of flooring time to substantiate him. U.S. attorneys are usually authorised in teams by a fast voice vote.

Schiff final month stated Martin “has constantly undermined the independence and abused the ability of the U.S. Legal professional’s workplace in D.C." since taking workplace.

Martin has touted endorsements from main conservative figures, together with Elon Musk, Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump Jr. Republican lawmakers, together with Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, even have expressed assist.

Paul in a put up on X stated he is assured Martin will “work to wash up DC and struggle in opposition to the left’s lawless judicial tyranny. Proud to assist him as U.S. Legal professional!"

His supporters have stated his file combating conservative causes makes him the best individual to steer the workplace that critics have claimed unfairly handled Jan. 6 defendants and will have been extra centered on bringing down road crime. Weeks into the job, he introduced a “Make D.C. Protected Once more” initiative to deliver extra gun circumstances in federal court docket, the place penalties are stiffer.

However a least one Republican member of the committee seems to have reservations. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who has expressed some issues about Martin’s Jan. 6 feedback, stated Thursday that he'll meet with Martin subsequent week.

Trump appointed Martin the identical week in January that he issued mass pardons to supporters who attacked the U.S. Capitol 4 years in the past. It was a morale-destroying alternative for prosecutors who spent 4 years constructing circumstances in opposition to over 1,500 riot defendants, the most important investigation in Justice Division historical past.

Martin was a number one determine in Trump's “Cease the Steal” motion. He spoke at a rally in Washington on the eve of the riot. He additionally represented three Jan. 6 defendants, which he ranked among the many prime 10 circumstances of his authorized profession on his committee questionnaire.

Former federal prosecutor Michael Romano, who was detailed to assist supervise Jan. 6 prosecutions, returned to his residence workplace within the Justice Division earlier than Martin arrived. And but Martin tried to demote Romano to an entry-level place together with different senior prosecutors who labored on Capitol riot circumstances.

“He appeared to not notice that I didn’t work for him,” stated Romano, who just lately joined a non-public legislation agency. “It was a second that made my eyes roll.”

Martin served on the board of the nonprofit Patriot Freedom Undertaking, which reviews elevating over $2.5 million to assist Jan. 6 defendants. Final yr, he introduced an award to a Capitol riot defendant, Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, who brazenly espoused white supremacist and antisemitic ideology and photographed himself sporting a Hitler mustache. He referred to Hale-Cusanelli as a buddy who's “a rare man.”

Martin instructed committee members that he condemns Hale-Cusanelli's hateful feedback as "abhorrent and deplorable." He claimed he did not study them till after he introduced him with the award throughout an occasion at Trump's golf membership in Bedminster, New Jersey.

However Martin alluded to the controversy when he interviewed Hale-Cusanelli earlier than the awards ceremony. Martin accused prosecutors of leaking images of Hale-Cusanelli sporting the Hitler mustache to taint the jury pool.

"Not your greatest second, however not unlawful,” Martin stated.

Critics have accused Martin of abusing his workplace — and his account on Musk's X platform — to intimidate potential targets of investigations.

At the very least three medical journals obtained letters from Martin asking about “competing viewpoints.” One other letter that he despatched on workplace stationery accused Wikipedia of “permitting overseas actors to control info and unfold propaganda to the American public.”

Martin had a behavior of getting ensnared in political controversies — and litigation — throughout his earlier forays into public service. Almost 20 years in the past, he was chief of workers for then-Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt when he was sued by a former workers lawyer who claimed he was fired in retaliation for complaining that the administration was destroying e-mails illegally.

Martin was chairman of the Missouri Republican Social gathering earlier than turning into president of conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly’s Eagle Discussion board in April 2013. He co-authored a e-book about Trump with Schlafly, who died in 2016.

Martin has referred to himself as one of many president’s legal professionals. His critics have name him unqualified and unfit for the job.

“Ed Martin has much less expertise than a misdemeanor assistant does after per week in primary coaching. That’s not an exaggeration,” stated Kevin Flynn, who labored as a prosecutor below roughly a dozen U.S. attorneys in Washington earlier than leaving the workplace in 2023. “And he’s not precisely studying on the job, both.”