Senate Judiciary Democrats are pushing for a rare hearing on a U.S. attorney nominee as they argue President Trump’s pick to lead the office in D.C., Ed Martin, is especially alarming and deserving of further scrutiny.
Martin has held the job on an interim basis since Inauguration Day, but in just a few short weeks on the job, he’s sparked significant attention and three calls for investigations.
“While the Senate Judiciary Committee does not typically hold hearings for U.S. Attorney nominees, Mr. Martin’s record merits heightened scrutiny,” Judiciary Committee ranking member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) wrote.
The Democrats pointed to a string of actions taken by Martin in office — from calling himself the president’s attorney to currying favor with Elon Musk and launching investigations into two Democratic lawmakers.
But in the Wednesday letter Durbin also highlighted Martin’s support of a Nazi sympathizing Jan. 6 defendant and raised the specter that Martin may have erased many of his past podcasts.
“Since his nomination to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Mr. Martin appears to have attempted to scrub much of his previous public commentary from the internet. For example, nearly 1,000 hours of his podcast have been removed from online platforms, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts, interfering with the Committee’s ability to thoroughly examine his record,” the lawmakers wrote.
They also pointed to a speech Martin gave at Trump’s Bedminster Club praising Tim Hale, a Jan. 6 defendant the lawmakers describe as having an “extensive and well-known history of antisemitism, misogyny, and racism, including direct praise of Adolf Hitler."
“It’s one of the goals of many of us to make sure that the world — and especially America — hears more from Tim Hale because he’s extraordinary,” Martin said after calling Hale “an extraordinary man, an extraordinary leader.”
The panel doesn’t usually hold confirmation hearings for the 94 U.S. attorneys nominated by the president, and committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said he was uninterested in doing so.
“The Senate Judiciary Committee hasn’t held a hearing for a U.S. Attorney nominee in more than 40 years, and not once in the time Grassley has chaired or been ranking on the committee. Chairman Grassley intends to maintain this precedent,” Grassley spokesperson Clare Slattery said.
“The Judiciary Committee will thoroughly review Ed Martin’s background and qualifications, including his questions for the record, as part of its standard nominations process for U.S. Attorneys.”
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Tuesday placed a hold on Martin’s nomination — a move that blocks his swift consideration on the Senate floor but one Republicans can easily defeat with just 50 votes.
Martin, who has never served as a prosecutor, is facing two calls for investigations by the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General and while another from Durbin was sent to the D.C. bar.
Martin has written public letters to Musk, vowing to go after those who “even acted simply unethically,” saying he would “chase them to the ends of the earth to hold them accountable” and added that “noone is above the law.”
Those letters appeared to serve as the basis for later correspondence to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) asking about alleged “threats” they made against public officials. Martin’s investigation into Schumer for comments he made five years ago warning justices would “pay the price” in regard to an abortion case appears to have fallen by the wayside, according to reporting from The Washington Post.
Martin’s Jan. 6 connections — both before and after taking on his new role — have also caused alarm.
Martin flouted a subpoena by the now-disbanded Jan. 6 panel in relation to his role as a Stop the Steal organizer. He also later represented at least three defendants who were charged in connection with storming the Capitol.
Martin is facing requests for two ethics investigations after he simultaneously was the attorney of record both for the Justice Department and a Jan. 6 defendant he represented, filing to dismiss his charges following Trump’s widespread pardons.
Martin has also sidelined prosecutors who worked on Jan. 6 cases, demoting several to entry-level positions.
“Among his first official actions were to shut down the section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia (USAO-DC) that was handling January 6 cases and terminate numerous prosecutors who were involved in prosecuting January 6 rioters,” Durbin wrote.
While Martin’s office did not respond to request for comment, the Constitutional Rights PAC has launched a Stand With Ed Martin campaign, indicating its preparation for a difficult confirmation path.
It features a number of quotes from those supportive of the attorney, including the late Phyllis Schlafly, who hired Martin for a leading role at her organization.
“Ed is a man of unwavering integrity. He stands on principle and always, always strives to do what is right, by the Constitution, the American People, and the Lord Jesus Christ,” the website states.
“This is precisely why President Donald Trump has asked him to serve in one of the most unsung, yet critical roles in his administration. Ed has been called to be the United States Attorney for Washington, DC, perhaps the most powerful prosecutor in the country, with the ability to shape the application of justice in our Nation’s Capital, routing out the sickness and corruption and bringing hope nee hope to America. And because you can trust him, the attacks will come.”