Senator Tillis Will Block Confirmation of Ed Martin as US Attorney

Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced he will oppose confirmation of Ed Martin for the role of U.S. Attorney in Washington, DC.

Tillis cited Martin’s representation in court of people who were prosecuted for breaching the Capitol on 6 January 2021. Martin was part of Donald Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election. Tillis said, “We have to be very, very clear that what happened on January 6th was wrong. It was not prompted or created by other people to put those people in trouble. They made a stupid decision, and they disgraced the United States by absolutely destroying the Capitol.”

Martin’s temporary appointment will expire 20 May 2025. He can be confirmed after his appointment expires, but Tillis is on the committee from which his nomination would have to be released for a floor vote. If all other committee members vote on party lines, Tillis’ opposition causes a tie vote which prevents the nomination from leaving committee.

It is possible that Martin does not have enough votes to win a confirmation vote on the floor of the full Senate.

Martin’s handling of his temporary post has been controversial. He fired or demoted attorneys in the office who prosecuted January 6th cases or were involved with cases against Trump allies Peter Navarro or Steve Bannon. He forced the chief of the criminal division at his office to resign for disagreeing about investigating a government contract awarded during the Biden administration. He says federal prosecutors are the “president’s lawyers.”

Over 100 people who have worked in the office called him “an affront to the singular pursuit of justice for which this Office has stood for more than two centuries.”

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