Ed Martin, who was appointed by President Trump as interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, DC, has been removed from that position and relocated from the Department of Justice headquarters.
Martin no longer leads the Weaponization Working Group, which was established to review investigations, including special counsel Jack Smith's inquiry into Trump. Reports indicate his nine-month tenure at the DOJ may have ended, though a department spokesperson confirmed he remains in the position of pardon attorney.
The circumstances surrounding Martin's reassignment have not been officially detailed. Martin was part of Trump's team at the Justice Department following the president's return to office.
On the first day of Trump’s new administration, Martin was nominated as U.S. Attorney for Washington, DC, a role that ultimately slipped through his fingers, the Daily Mail reported. By May 2025, after failing to secure Senate confirmation—largely due to his ties to the January 6, 2021, Capitol rally planning—Trump withdrew the nomination. Judge Jeanine Pirro, a familiar face from Fox News, stepped into the position instead.
Martin, lacking prior trial or prosecutorial experience, served as interim U.S. Attorney for 15 weeks, during which he made waves by threatening to investigate Trump’s political adversaries. He also hinted at firing or demoting prosecutors tied to cases involving Trump and the events of January 6. It was a bold stance, but one that didn’t win him enough allies on Capitol Hill.
Instead of the high-profile attorney role, Trump appointed Martin to a position not requiring Senate approval, eventually naming him pardon attorney and head of the Weaponization Working Group. Now, even those responsibilities are shrinking, with sources telling The Washington Post that he’s being stripped of most duties and moved to a different building in Northeast Washington, DC, where the pardon office operates. It’s a far cry from rubbing shoulders with Attorney General Pam Bondi and other heavyweights.
The timing of Martin’s demotion couldn’t be more telling, coming on the heels of several botched attempts to prosecute Trump’s political foes like New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI Director James Comey, and California Senator Adam Schiff. Martin reportedly played a significant role in these efforts, which crumbled under scrutiny. For many, this raises questions about whether the DOJ can effectively counter what the administration has called an “abuse” of legal power.
Speaking of his current status, a Justice Department spokesperson told the Daily Mail, “President Trump appointed Ed Martin as pardon attorney, and Ed continues to do a great job in that role.” That’s the official line, but whispers of a complete exit persist, fueled by a CNN report claiming his DOJ days are done. The department itself has stayed mum on any public personnel shifts regarding Martin.
Relocated to a less central office, Martin is no longer just steps away from the power players shaping Trump’s legal strategy. This physical and symbolic distancing suggests a deliberate effort to sideline a man once dubbed Trump’s “pardon czar.” Is this a pragmatic move to avoid further controversy, or a sign of deeper fractures within the administration’s ranks?
The Weaponization Working Group was a cornerstone of Trump’s push to expose what many see as the left’s relentless lawfare against him and his allies. Losing Martin as its leader could slow down efforts to dismantle investigations like Jack Smith’s, which have long been viewed as partisan witch hunts by Trump’s base. The question now is who will step up to carry that torch.
For those fed up with the endless probes and prosecutions, Martin’s demotion feels like a gut punch to the cause of draining the swamp. If the DOJ can’t hold the line against overzealous bureaucrats and politically motivated attorneys, what hope is there for real reform? This isn’t just about one man—it’s about the larger fight for fairness in a system many believe is rigged.
Critics of the left will argue that Martin’s ouster—or at least his reduced role—proves the deep state still has claws in the DOJ, ready to sabotage anyone who dares challenge their grip. After all, his hardline stance against Trump’s enemies made him a lightning rod for establishment pushback. Could this be retribution dressed up as restructuring?
Yet, there’s reason to believe Trump and his team aren’t backing down entirely—Martin’s retention as pardon attorney shows the president still values his loyalty. Perhaps this is a strategic pivot, keeping a trusted ally in a quieter but still impactful role while the administration regroups. The pardon power, after all, is a potent tool for righting perceived wrongs.
What happens next is anyone’s guess, but one thing is certain: the battle over the DOJ’s direction is far from over. Trump’s supporters will be watching to ensure that the mission to curb prosecutorial overreach doesn’t falter, no matter who’s in the driver’s seat.
If the left thought this demotion would derail the MAGA movement, they’ve got another thing coming.