Politics:
Trump Abandons Nominee, Taps Fox News Host as Interim D.C. Attorney
Trump intends to swap nominated loyalist Ed Martin as D.C.'s lead prosecutor with a new choice.
WASHINGTON - In an unexpected move, President Donald Trump declared Thursday that he would replace Ed Martin as his pick for the U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., after encountering opposition from a prominent Republican senator.
"He's a fantastic individual. He just wasn't gathering the support," Trump said of Martin. "I'm quite disappointed about that. ... I'm just one person. I can only lift this little phone numerous times a day."
Trump hinted a fresh nominee for the role would surface within the coming two days. Martin's term as temporary U.S. Attorney is set to expire May 20.
"We have someone else who will excel," Trump said, failing to unveil the identity of the individual. Instead, he chose Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to assume the position on an interim basis later that day.
In a laudatory post on Truth Social, Trump praised Martin, stating that he "has performed an OUTSTANDING job as interim U.S. Attorney" and that he would be appointed associate deputy attorney general and pardon attorney, as well as heading a "weaponization working group" at the Justice Department.
"In these pivotal roles, Ed will ensure we finally scrutinize the Weaponization of our Government under the Biden Administration, and provide the necessary Justice for its victims," Trump penned.
Background:
Martin, a seasoned right-wing activist, had taken office on Inauguration Day as interim U.S. Attorney in Washington, spraying Jan. 6 prosecutors and demoting others while opening an investigation into the office's handling of the Capitol riot probe.
The restrictions faced by Martin, who lacked prosecutorial experience, became apparent as senators posed critical questions concerning his remarks about a far-right defendant linked to Jan. 6, whom the Justice Department labelled an "avowed white supremacist and Nazi sympathizer".
Senator Thom Tillis, R-N.C., expressed dissent towards Martin's nomination following a meeting Monday night. Tillis' stance essentially put Martin's nomination to Washington's top prosecutor in jeopardy.
In a telephone conversation Thursday, Martin noted that he felt "honored" to be appointed and was pleased with Trump's praise of him. He commended the lawyers in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia as "extremely skilled" and stated that the office dealt with "immensely complex cases" daily.
Martin echoed Tillis' stance regarding offenders who attack police officers, while emphasizing that "weaponization" was a problem, and an obstruction charge that the Supreme Court deemed too broad against Jan. 6 defendants "was genuinely damaging for people."
Encountered with questions regarding his stance on Jan. 6 conspiracy theories, Martin mentioned his moniker for a figure, which he named "Mr. Coffee", a man linked to the Capitol riot's gallows who Martin proposed had ties to the FBI, as the video showed him heading in the direction of the FBI's Washington field office during the Capitol uproar.
"As U.S. Attorney, I didn't investigate Mr. Coffee. As a citizen, I found it peculiar that the symbol used to encapsulate America has never been looked into by the media or anyone else," Martin said. "Mr. Coffee is something - I'm sheepish for you guys, the media, that you didn't manage to uncover this, given how adept you are at this."
Senator Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who had placed a hold on Martin's nomination, deemed him "unfit" for the position and alleged that Martin "abused his position as interim U.S. Attorney to endorse a perilous agenda that prioritized the president's personal interests over those of the public, undermined the rule of law, and threatened our democracy."
In a statement, Schiff argued that Martin "initiated political investigations when there was no evidence to justify them" and "fired, demoted, and forced the resignation of dedicated professionals who refused to comply with his unethical orders and those of others in the department."
- Probably, senators' concerns about the nominee's remarks on a far-right defendant linked to Jan. 6 led to the news about Donald Trump identifying Jeanine Pirro as the interim D.C. Attorney.
- Elaborating on his presidency's role in the matter, Trump took to general-news social media platform Truth Social to praise Martin, who agreed to serve as associate deputy attorney general and pardon attorney, as well as heading a "weaponization working group" at the Justice Department.
- Politics aside, the agreed replacement of Ed Martin as the nominee for the U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., highlights the power that senators hold in the confirmation process, demonstrating the importance of gathering support for potential appointments.
