D.C. Attorney Nominee’s Threats Against Critics of Elon Musk and DOGE Mire Him In Disqualifying Ethics Scandal
Washington, D.C. — On Wednesday, a coalition of civil society groups alerted the courts in the District of Columbia about the multiple ethics complaints lodged against Edward R. Martin, Jr., the interim U.S. attorney for D.C. As the chief prosecutor and litigator for the federal government in the nation’s capital, Martin will appear before these judges on a routine basis—and permanently so, if his presidential nomination is confirmed by the Senate.
Members of Congress, former federal prosecutors, civil society organizations and others have sounded the alarm that Martin’s conduct is raising serious concerns about his compliance with the ethics rules binding federal prosecutors. The letter apprises the federal and D.C. courts in Washington, D.C. of these numerous concerns and allegations against Martin, such as complaints about his personal behavior, his conflicts of interest and his prosecution threats against political enemies, including critics of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
The letter—which was spearheaded by Demand Progress and Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF)—highlights formal ethics complaints warning that Martin has repeatedly threatened to use his office to investigate and prosecute people who merely exercise their First Amendment right to criticize Trump and Musk, often without any evidence of any lawbreaking. The letter also notes Martin’s habit of botching basic facts and fundamental legal principles that someone in his position should know by heart.
“In just two months, Ed Martin has corrupted the office of the U.S. Attorney for D.C. into Elon Musk’s personal hit squad,” said Emily Peterson-Cassin, director of corporate power at Demand Progress. “Martin’s drive to use his office to threaten political enemies undermines the rule of law and his inability to remember basic facts and legal principles should disqualify him from being hired as a legal assistant, let alone being confirmed by the Senate to be one of the most important federal prosecutors in the nation.”
Seth Stern, director of advocacy at FPF, added “Ed Martin proudly proclaims that he and his team are President Trump’s lawyers. If so, they’ve got a client with no regard for the free press and the First Amendment. Martin’s conduct as interim U.S. attorney shows that he intends to convert the office into a taxpayer-funded law firm for Trump and his friends and pursue cases that any real law firm would be sanctioned for taking to court. The judges who would have to deal with Martin’s frivolous lawfare if he’s confirmed need to know that he views his office’s mission fundamentally differently than they do (and than attorney ethics rules do), and that his agenda has nothing to do with justice.”