More than 100 former U.S. attorneys have voiced strong opposition to President Donald Trump’s nomination of Ed Martin as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, calling him an “egregiously unqualified political hack” with no prior prosecutorial or judicial experience.
The group has formally urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing on Martin’s controversial record, citing concerns over his handling of investigations into the January 6 Capitol attack and his statements regarding the 2020 election.
Former Prosecutors Demand Scrutiny
The opposition letter, signed by 103 former assistant U.S. attorneys, criticizes Martin’s past actions as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, a role he assumed earlier this year.
The letter highlights his dismissal of cases against individuals associated with the January 6 insurrection and his public statements promoting election fraud conspiracy theories. The signatories argue that Martin’s conduct represents a fundamental threat to the rule of law and law enforcement integrity.
“Martin’s flagrant misconduct is a danger to law enforcement, the rule of law, and the United States Constitution itself,” the letter states. “It would be an insult to the rule of law to deny the honorable law enforcement professionals who were unjustifiably removed from their duties such an opportunity for accountability.”
Senate Democrats Join the Opposition
Prominent Senate Democrats, including Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), have echoed these concerns.
Schiff, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced Monday that he would place a hold on Martin’s nomination, describing him as an individual who has “openly threatened and intimidated political opponents, dismissed charges against his own clients, and used his office as a cudgel to chill dissent and free speech.”
Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD), a former prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, also condemned Martin’s qualifications, stating:
“There are a lot of people nominated to be U.S. attorneys, and he’s got to be the least prepared person I’ve seen. I worked under Clinton and Bush, and the office pretty much ran as an apolitical operation. He’s different.”
Martin’s Controversial Background
Martin, a New Jersey native who has operated a private law practice in Missouri, has represented individuals charged in connection with the January 6 attack.
His nomination to oversee the largest U.S. Attorney’s Office in the country has raised alarms among legal experts, given his history of advocating for political retaliation against perceived opponents of Trump’s policies.
Adding to concerns, Martin has reportedly targeted lawmakers critical of his actions. On Monday, he posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “no one is above the law” in response to an incident where a Democratic congresswoman from Texas was accused of shoving a far-right activist’s cellphone away while being questioned.
The Fight Against Martin’s Confirmation
Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for U.S. Attorney nominations are rare, but opposition leaders argue that Martin’s case warrants exceptional scrutiny.
In a letter sent to the committee, House Democrats, including Rep. Ivey, underscored that Martin “has demonstrated time and again that in addition to not having the necessary experience as a prosecutor, he is more interested in picking political fights than enforcing our nation’s laws.”
Schiff reinforced this stance, warning that confirming Martin would set a dangerous precedent, stating:
“No one embodies Donald Trump’s personal weaponization of the Justice Department more than Ed Martin. He is unfit to serve as a lawyer, let alone one with the resources—and cover from the Senate—to further twist the power of the law and law enforcement to go after Americans who stand up for the rule of law and for our democracy.”
Next Steps
With Martin’s nomination awaiting Senate confirmation, opposition efforts are intensifying. Schiff has vowed to block the appointment at every stage, arguing that Martin’s confirmation would jeopardize the integrity of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., and undermine public confidence in the Department of Justice.
Legal experts warn that Martin’s appointment could have significant implications for ongoing federal cases, particularly those related to the January 6 attack and election-related investigations.
As the Senate Judiciary Committee considers its next steps, Martin’s nomination remains a flashpoint in the broader debate over the politicization of the U.S. justice system under Trump’s administration.
