Trump Loyalist Is Out at DOJ

Ed Martin's stormy run at the Justice Department is ending, with the Trump loyalist exiting after clashing with top officials over his freewheeling approach to investigations. President Trump announced the move Friday on social media, saying Martin will head outside government to wage "legal battles" around the November congressional elections and the 2028 presidential race, the Washington Post reports. Martin replied online: "Proud to serve. Fight Fight Fight." Martin's brief tenure was marked by disputes and internal friction.

A longtime antiabortion activist and prominent election skeptic who helped organize the rally preceding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, he was installed as interim US attorney in Washington despite having never served as a federal prosecutor. Staff complained about his management and his efforts to target Trump critics; his nomination for the permanent job was withdrawn for lack of Senate support. Reassigned as pardon attorney and head of a "Weaponization Working Group" scrutinizing prosecutions of Trump and others, Martin was later stripped of most duties and moved out of DOJ headquarters over his aggressive tactics, which included a photo op outside New York Attorney General Letitia James' home and a rescinded letter implying an FBI agent was under investigation.

In a report released Friday, Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, accused Trump of essentially selling pardons and freeing supporters, aided by Martin, per the Hill. "Mr. Martin has since described his philosophy as 'No MAGA left behind' and has used his office to privilege clemency applications from the Oath Keepers, the Proud Boys, and the two men convicted of plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer," the panel's report says.