Democrats are pulling out all the stops to block President Trump’s loyal US Attorney nominee, Ed Martin, as Senate Judiciary Democrats launch an eleventh-hour attack to derail his confirmation. With May 20 looming as a critical deadline and California Senator Adam Schiff placing a procedural hold on the vote, Martin’s nomination for Washington, DC’s top prosecutor position hangs in the balance amid accusations of ethical violations and questions about his January 6 connections.
Democrats Target Trump Loyalist
Ed Martin, a staunch Trump supporter who has been serving as acting US Attorney for DC since Inauguration Day, is facing intense opposition from Senate Democrats led by Adam Schiff and Dick Durbin. Democrats have taken the unusual step of demanding a confirmation hearing for Martin, a procedural move rarely used for US Attorney nominees but one they claim is necessary given Martin’s controversial background and lack of prosecutorial experience.
It's time to confirm Ed Martin now!!! pic.twitter.com/2tvaai7aOA
— Brenden Dilley (@WarlordDilley) April 29, 2025
Martin’s nomination has drawn particular scrutiny due to his involvement in the 2020 Stop the Steal movement and his presence near the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Critics point to his past work defending a Missouri Proud Boys member involved in the Capitol riot and claim he failed to disclose media appearances with Russian-aligned outlets in his initial paperwork.
Confirmation Battle Intensifies
Senate Judiciary Democrats escalated their opposition Tuesday, accusing Martin of submitting false statements under oath and dodging over 80 questions in his written responses to the committee. “Ed Martin, Donald Trump’s pick for U.S. Attorney in DC, submits false statements under oath, dodges 80+ questions in written responses submitted to the committee,” the Democrats stated, while CNN reported that “Martin deflected and distanced himself from his past inflammatory rhetoric and comments on Democrats, the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and the federal justice system.”
Ed Martin, Donald Trump’s pick for U.S. Attorney in DC, failed to disclose 150+ appearances on Russian state media. pic.twitter.com/q4VoVJmynA
— Senate Judiciary Democrats 🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryDems) April 16, 2025
Senator Schiff has been particularly vocal in his opposition, declaring that Martin is “patently unfit for office” and claiming he has “abused the power of the US Attorney’s office in DC” and used his position as a “cudgel to chill dissent.” Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, led by Chuck Grassley, have pushed back against Democrat demands for a hearing, with Grassley stating, “It has long been Committee practice that we don’t hold hearings on U.S. Attorney nominations.”
Conservative Support and Democrat Obstruction
Since taking over the DC US Attorney’s office, Martin has made significant changes that align with Trump’s vision of justice, including firing prosecutors handling January 6 cases and dismissing charges against some Capitol protest defendants. His actions have earned him strong support from conservatives who view his confirmation battle as yet another example of Democrat obstruction designed to prevent President Trump from installing loyal officials who will clean up what many Republicans see as a corrupt justice system in Washington.
Ed Martin, Trump’s nominee to be DC U.S. attorney, has appeared on Russian state media over 150 times in the past decade, including to promote pro-Assad conspiracy theories. pic.twitter.com/OTlRloAadM
— Kareem Rifai 🌐 (@KareemRifai) April 16, 2025
“That is not justice but a rigged system. Shame on you and this broken legal system,” Martin once wrote, signaling his willingness to confront what many conservatives view as systemic bias in the federal judiciary.
Martin’s confirmation requires unanimous Republican support in the Senate Judiciary Committee, making the Democrat’s procedural delays particularly effective at stalling his nomination. If not confirmed by May 20, the federal court in DC will need to make an interim appointment, potentially undoing Martin’s efforts to reform the prosecutor’s office that handles many of the most politically sensitive cases in the nation.