Ed Martin Removed from DOJ ‘Weaponization Working Group’/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Ed Martin has been removed as head of the DOJ’s “Weaponization Working Group” due to stalled progress, though he remains pardon attorney in a separate DOJ office. Martin, a key Trump ally, had overseen politically charged moves, including the dismissal of Jan. 6 riot cases and failed prosecutions of Trump’s rivals. His controversial tenure and ties to the “Stop the Steal” movement led to opposition from lawmakers, halting his nomination as U.S. Attorney.
Quick Look:
- Leadership Change: Ed Martin has been removed from leading the Justice Department’s “Weaponization Working Group” and is no longer working from DOJ headquarters.
- Current Role: He remains in the department as the U.S. pardon attorney, now operating from a different DOJ office building in Washington, D.C.
- Reason for Removal: Sources cite lack of progress under his leadership as a key reason for the change, though no official explanation has been given.
- Controversial Tenure: Martin, a vocal Trump ally, had pushed for prosecutions of Trump’s political opponents and oversaw politically sensitive decisions, including mass dismissals of Jan. 6 riot cases.
- Failed Nomination: His nomination as U.S. Attorney for D.C. was withdrawn after Republican Senator Thom Tillis publicly opposed it due to Martin’s extreme partisanship and support for Capitol rioters.
- Successor Appointed: Fox News host Jeanine Pirro was appointed by Trump to replace Martin as the lead federal prosecutor, prompting his shift to the pardon office.
Ed Martin Removed from DOJ ‘Weaponization Working Group’ Post Amid Stalled Progress
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservative activist Ed Martin has been ousted from his role as head of the Justice Department’s “Weaponization Working Group,” a panel established to investigate alleged political bias in federal prosecutions, including those against President Donald Trump. According to a source familiar with the matter, Martin is no longer stationed at DOJ headquarters but remains in his position as the department’s pardon attorney, now working from a different DOJ office building in Washington.
The reason for Martin’s removal as head of the controversial working group was not immediately disclosed. However, another insider indicated that under Martin’s leadership, the group had made little progress. Both individuals spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal personnel matters.
Attempts to reach Martin for comment by phone and email on Monday were unsuccessful.
Martin’s Partisan Tenure
Martin has been a vocal ally of Trump and an architect of efforts to utilize the Justice Department to pursue political rivals, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Both prosecutions were dismissed in court last November, with a judge ruling that the special prosecutor appointed to bring the charges had been illegally installed by the DOJ.
In January 2025, Trump named Martin as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, despite Martin lacking prior prosecutorial experience. His appointment marked a dramatic shift in the office’s direction: he demoted staff working on sensitive political cases, posted publicly about potential investigations, and oversaw the dismissal of hundreds of January 6-related prosecutions after Trump issued a blanket pardon for Capitol riot defendants.
Martin’s aggressive reshaping of the U.S. Attorney’s Office drew concern from lawmakers, including Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who refused to support Martin’s permanent nomination to the role due to his extreme views and support for Capitol rioters. Trump withdrew the nomination just two days after Tillis’s public statement.
Stop the Steal Ties and Aftermath
Martin was a prominent leader of Trump’s “Stop the Steal” campaign and spoke at a rally in Washington on Jan. 5, 2021, the night before the Capitol attack. He later joined the board of a nonprofit that raised funds to defend January 6 defendants and support their families.
Following his removal as interim U.S. Attorney, Trump appointed Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as his replacement. Martin then transitioned to DOJ headquarters to serve as pardon attorney before now being moved offsite.
