Ed Martin Leaves the Justice Department to Fight Trump's Election 'Legal Battles' Through 2028

President Trump announced on Aug. 21 that Ed Martin is leaving his post as the Justice Department's pardon attorney to "fight Legal Battles" surrounding this year's midterm elections and the 2028 presidential election. "I know he will do an outstanding job, ensure Free, Fair, and Honest Elections," Trump wrote. Martin was named interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia last year and oversaw the dismissal of Jan. 6 cases after Trump's pardons; his nomination was pulled amid bipartisan concern about his lack of prosecutorial experience. He then became pardon attorney and a special attorney on mortgage-fraud inquiries into Sen. Adam Schiff.

The move sends a departing department official directly into partisan election litigation, at a moment when the administration is seeking state voter data, pressing Congress on documentary proof of citizenship, and has obtained voting records or equipment from the largest counties in Arizona, Georgia and Michigan.

Martin had been sidelined after clashes with department leadership and removed as head of the Weaponization Working Group while keeping the pardon attorney title. He drew criticism for urging New York Attorney General Letitia James to resign and posing for photos outside her home. Attorney General Todd Blanche called him a "patriot."