Republican senator declines endorsement for Trump supporter Ed Martin's nomination as D.C.'s chief prosecutor
A fresh take:
DC on Tenterhooks: Tillis Halts Trump's Controversial US Attorney Pick
Washington D.C. is gripped by uncertainty as Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., dashes President Donald Trump's nomination for U.S. attorney for the nation's capital. Ed Martin, a close ally of Jan. 6 defendants and organizer of the "Stop the Steal" movement, seems to have met a stumbling block in the approval process.
Tillis, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee overseeing Martin's nomination, has made it clear that he won't back Martin's bid. With the committee comprising 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats, this move could potentially thwart Martin's confirmation, as a deadlocked vote wouldn't favorably report the nomination to the full Senate.
Questions surrounding Martin's nomination do not spare his inexperience; he previously held no prosecutorial experience until Trump appointed him interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia on the day of his inauguration. The move has caused significant worries among alumni of the office, tasked with prosecuting federal and local crimes in Washington.
In a meeting with Martin, Tillis voiced concerns about Martin's involvement in the defense of Capitol attack participants. Despite acknowledging Martin's stance on certain individuals being overprosecuted, Tillis insisted that Martin supported the pardon of approximately 200 individuals who, in his view, should never have been pardoned.
With Tillis's opposition, the fate of Martin's nomination may now rest with Trump. But supporters of Martin are unsure whether a full Senate vote will be granted if the nomination dies in committee. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, expressed uncertainty over the procedure, noting that a majority vote of the Senate may be required to bypass the committee stalemate.
Allegations against Martin extend beyond his stance on pardons. As interim U.S. attorney, his tenure has been marked by an investigation into the handling of Jan. 6 cases and the dismissal of several federal prosecutors[4]. Martin faces criticism from Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff for consistently undermining the independence and abusing the power of the U.S. Attorney's office in D.C.[4]
Trump continues to campaign for Martin's confirmation, writing on Truth Social that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. believes Martin's appointment is "IMPERATIVE in terms of doing all that has to be done to SAVE LIVES and to, MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN."[5] Martin's association with a far-right Jan. 6 rioter and his broader political leanings have added to the concerns surrounding his nomination[3].
- NBC News
- Politico
- The Guardian
- CNN
- Truth Social
- Senator Thom Tillis has indicated that he won't support the nomination of Ed Martin, a controversial pick for US Attorney in Washington D.C., potentially obstructing his confirmation due to a deadlock in votes on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which comprises 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats.
- In a meeting with Martin, Tillis raised concerns about Martin's involvement in the defense of Capitol attack participants and his perceived support for pardoning individuals accused of offenses related to the events on January 6th.
- With Tillis unlikely to back Martin's nomination, the fate of his confirmation now hangs in the balance, as Trump will need to exert pressure to push the nomination forward, possibly leading to a contest of political wills.
- Ongoing investigations into Martin's handling of Jan. 6 cases, dismissal of federal prosecutors, and potential abuse of power as interim U.S. Attorney amplify the uncertainty surrounding his nomination, with Democratic Senator Adam Schiff accusing Martin of undermining the independence of the U.S. Attorney's office in Washington.
