Trump Later Withdrew Martin's Formal Nomination for the Permanent Position Amid a Difficult Senate Confirmation Process

President Trump announced Friday that Ed Martin, a loyalist and former Justice Department official, is leaving the administration to focus on legal battles related to upcoming elections. Martin, a "Stop the Steal" advocate and attorney for Jan. 6 defendants, most recently served as pardon attorney at the Justice Department.

"Ed Martin has been with me from the very beginning, and done an incredible job as an Attorney, Director of the Weaponization Working Group, and the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Ed is now leaving to go outside to fight Legal Battles for the upcoming Midterm Election, and the Presidential Election of 2028. I know he will do an outstanding job, ensure Free, Fair, and Honest Elections, and strongly advance our Constitutional Rights. Good luck Ed!

Attorney General Todd Blanche praised Martin on X, calling him "a patriot who loves this nation" and adding, "We look forward to seeing his future successes! Despite lacking prosecutorial experience, Trump appointed Martin as interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., in January 2025. In that role, he oversaw the firings of Jan. 6 prosecutors, demoted others, and opened an investigation into the office's handling of the Capitol riot investigation.

Trump later withdrew Martin's formal nomination for the permanent position amid a difficult Senate confirmation process. "If Mr. Martin were being put forth as a U.S. attorney for any district except the district where Jan. 6 happened, the protest happened, I'd probably support him, but not in this district, Sen.

Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said at the time. Trump then announced Martin would be appointed associate deputy attorney general and pardon attorney, directing a "weaponization working group" tasked with investigating prosecutors who pursued past investigations into the president and his allies. In February 2026, NBC News reported Martin was stripped of that role.

On Friday, Martin reposted Trump's announcement, adding, Proud to serve. Fight Fight Fight.