Ed Martin exits Justice Department to lead election legal fights

Ed Martin, a prominent loyalist to President Donald Trump who held multiple roles at the Justice Department despite a series of controversies, is leaving the administration. Trump announced the departure on Friday via a social media post, stating that Martin would step down as the department's pardon attorney to "fight Legal Battles" related to this year's midterm elections and the 2028 presidential contest.

Trump expressed confidence in Martin's future work, writing that he would "ensure Free, Fair, and Honest Elections" and advance constitutional rights. Martin, who reposted the announcement on his X account with the message "Proud to serve. Fight Fight Fight," did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Martin's tenure in the administration was marked by repeated friction. He was initially appointed interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, where he oversaw the dismissal of cases against January 6 defendants following Trump's sweeping pardons. His nomination for that post was later withdrawn amid bipartisan concerns over his lack of prosecutorial experience and his support for those who attacked the Capitol.

He subsequently moved to Justice Department headquarters, serving as pardon attorney and leading a working group tasked with reviewing actions by the Biden administration that Republicans claimed unfairly targeted conservatives. Then-Attorney General Pam Bondi also named him a special attorney to investigate mortgage fraud allegations involving Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

During that investigation, Martin sent James a letter urging her to resign "as an act of good faith" and posed for photographs outside her Brooklyn residence. The case against James was ultimately dismissed after a judge ruled that another prosecutor involved had been illegally appointed.

Martin was later sidelined amid clashes with department leadership and removed as head of the weaponization working group, though he retained his title as pardon attorney. Attorney General Todd Blanche praised Martin on Friday as a "patriot who loves this nation."

Before joining the administration, Martin was a leader of the "Stop the Steal" movement and spoke at a rally in Washington on the eve of the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol. He also served on the board of a nonprofit that raised funds for Capitol riot defendants and their families.

His departure comes as the administration intensifies its focus on election integrity messaging, particularly around noncitizen voting, which Trump has falsely characterized as a widespread problem. The Justice Department has sought detailed voter data from states, and the FBI has obtained voting records from populous counties in Arizona, Georgia, and Michigan without disclosing its purpose. Trump has also issued executive orders aimed at taking control of certain election operations, drawing alarms from Democratic state officials about potential federal interference at polling places.