President Donald Trump on Monday nominated interim U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ed Martin to be D.C.’s permanent top prosecutor. Almost immediately afterward, prosecutor Denise Cheung, who oversaw the city’s criminal division, resigned. Cheung refused a Trump administration request to “freeze assets of a government contractor” because she said she didn’t have enough evidence to do so. In her resignation letter, Cheung said Martin had asked her to step down. So who is Martin, and why is his nomination noteworthy?
Who is Ed Martin?
Martin is a Missouri lawyer who was the chairman of the state’s Republican Party in 2013. He previously led the “pro-family” activist group Phyllis Schlafly Eagles.
He was a vocal supporter of Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was stolen. On Jan. 5, 2021, Martin led a chant at a “Stop the Steal” rally and was the lawyer for at least three Capitol riot defendants, including a Proud Boys member.
As a conservative radio host, Martin has broadcasted extreme anti-abortion views, including advocating for capital punishment and a national ban without exceptions for rape and incest. He also claimed that birth control pills were “damaging.” He often posts religious passages and praise for Trump on his X account.
Martin is the first U.S. attorney for D.C. in 50 years who has not previously served as a judge or federal prosecutor.
Martin’s Moves Since Jan. 20
Martin oversaw the dismissals of hundreds of Jan. 6 cases since becoming interim U.S. attorney. He fired about 30 prosecutors overseeing Capitol riot cases. In late January, he announced a “special project” to review the “great failure” of how the Justice Department handled charges brought against Jan. 6 defendants. In early February, Martin publicly threatened to investigate people Elon Musk believes are blocking Department of Government Efficiency efforts.
Martin’s Potential Impact on DC
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia also prosecutes local cases in Superior Court, which extends from misdemeanor drug possessions to murders. If the Senate confirms Martin, he shared with ABC7 that he aims to rid the nation’s capital of violent crime and go after juveniles involved in violent crimes. He wants Congress to approve more judges in the District to address the backlog of murder cases. Martin has suggested that he will align his office’s priorities with the Trump administration.
