Controversial attorney Ed Martin leaving Justice Department

The head of the Justice Department’s Weaponization Working Group, Ed Martin, is leaving the department, capping a chaotic tenure in the Trump administration.

Martin, who also served as the U.S. pardon attorney, has been at the center of a string of controversies since the earliest days of joining the administration, including failing to advance as a nominee for U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

“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,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social in announcing the departure.

“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.”

“Proud to serve. Fight Fight Fight,” Martin wrote on the social platform X in response to the news.

Martin failed to gain the support of Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) because he represented numerous clients who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

While serving as acting U.S. attorney while his nomination was pending, Martin moved to dismiss some cases of clients — sparking calls for an inquiry into the apparent conflict of interest by the D.C. Bar that has since been taken up by its Office of Professional Responsibility.

“By not recusing himself from this matter, Mr. Martin created an impermissible conflict of interest and appearance of impropriety by using his new government office to favor his client, whom he was defending from the very charges he sought to dismiss,” wrote Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, in a 2025 letter requesting an ethics investigation.

Martin made a number of notable moves in just a few months in the acting role, such as sending letters to two sitting Democratic lawmakers informing them they were under investigation for past comments he alleged were threatening, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.).

He also sent a letter to Georgetown University saying he would not hire any interns or attorneys from the school if they did not end its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, later escalating that threat by saying failure to respond would “bear directly” on its nonprofit status. That matter is also under investigation .

After any route to confirmation in the Senate collapsed, Martin was then moved to his dual role at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

He took the job of Liz Oyer, the prior U.S. pardon attorney, who was fired after refusing to recommend actor Mel Gibson have his gun rights restored.

Under Martin, Trump pardoned a number of people who donated to his campaign or affiliated entities or who otherwise were allies.

In a Friday report titled “Pardon Inc.,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, accused Trump of effectively selling pardons.

“Mr. Martin has since described his philosophy as ‘No MAGA left behind’ and has used his office to privilege clemency applications from the Oath Keepers, the Proud Boys, and the two men convicted of plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer,” the panel wrote in its report.

“Convicted investor fraudster Trevor Milton and his wife donated more than $1.8 million to committees supporting Trump before Milton hired two attorneys with direct Trump ties and received a full pardon; tax fraudster Paul Walczak received a pardon 12 days after his mother attended a $1 million-per-plate Trump fundraiser offering face time with the President; and Binance founder Changpeng Zhao hired a longtime friend of Donald Trump, Jr. to lobby for clemency as Binance developed extensive financial ties to the Trump family’s cryptocurrency business before Trump pardoned him,” the report states.

Martin was also scrutinized for a third role he played at the DOJ as a special attorney for mortgage fraud.

A federal grand jury was empaneled in Maryland that took the highly unusual step of launching a probe into one of its own investigations — its review into mortgage fraud allegations against Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).

A subpoena reviewed by The Hill asked a witness whether they dealt with anyone “claiming to be working for or at the direction” of the Justice Department, including Martin. Other outlets reported prosecutors were evaluating whether Martin may have wrongly deputized two figures outside the DOJ to aid in the investigation of Schiff.

Attorney General Todd Blanche noted Martin’s exit on Friday.

“Ed Martin is a patriot who loves this nation. We thank him for his service to the Department, @POTUS and the American people. We look forward to seeing his future successes!” he wrote on X.