By Rudi Keller
U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, in a news release issued Tuesday, cited Martin’s actions since being named interim U.S. attorney as the reason for the hold.
“For the past nine weeks, Ed Martin has consistently undermined the independence and abused the power of the U.S. Attorney’s office in DC – openly threatening and intimidating political opponents, dismissing charges against his own clients, firing public servants for their roles in legitimate investigations, and using his office as a cudgel to chill dissent and free speech,” Schiff said. “No one embodies Donald Trump’s personal weaponization of the Justice Department more than Ed Martin.”
Martin did not respond to a message seeking comment Wednesday morning.
Martin, who grew up in New Jersey, has spent most of his adult life in Missouri since attending St. Louis University Law School. After almost two years as chief of staff to Gov. Matt Blunt from January 2006 to November 2007, Martin twice ran unsuccessfully for office.
Martin sought the Third District seat in Congress in 2010 and was the Republican nominee for Missouri attorney general in 2012.
Martin was originally tapped by President Donald Trump to run the Office of Management and Budget. But in January, Trump shifted Martin to the D.C. prosecutor’s office.
Martin, who resigned in January after 10 years as president of Phyllis Schlafly Eagles, worked as a defense attorney for people charged with crimes for the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. Since taking office in an interim appointment Jan. 22, Martin has drawn criticism from Democrats who accuse him of making political decisions about prosecutions.
In early March, 10 senate Democrats complained about Martin to the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel. The complaint said he had dismissed criminal charges against his own clients and threatened prosecution against government employees to intimidate them, the Hill reported.
In a news release, Schiff said he was blocking Martin’s nomination because of his “troubling conduct in his months as Interim U.S. Attorney in the same role.”
The nomination must get passed the Senate Judiciary Committee before going to the Senate for confirmation.
“For the past few weeks, Ed Martin has been a one-man wrecking ball,” Schiff wrote Tuesday on social media. “Threatening political opponents, firing public servants, and using his office to chill free speech. His nomination must be blocked.”
2 comments:
Another nutcase that should be blocked is Billy "jaba the hut" long. Ludicrous to think this man should be leading any aspect of government.
While I don’t appreciate the name calling, I absolutely agree that Billy Long should not be in public office. He is disgraceful.
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