Top DC prosecutor Ed Martin, who promoted false 2020 voter fraud claims, forms 'election accountability' unit
Source: Associated Press
Top DC prosecutor, who promoted false 2020 voter fraud claims, forms election accountability unit
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and ALI SWENSON
Updated 5:51 PM EDT, March 17, 2025
WASHINGTON (AP) The top federal prosecutor for the nations capital, who promoted President Donald Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was rigged, has formed a special unit to investigate election offenses, according to an email sent to lawyers in his office on Monday.
Interim District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Ed Martin said the Special Unit: Election Accountability has already opened one investigation and will continue to make sure that all the election laws of our nation are obeyed, according to the email reviewed by The Associated Press.
Martin, who is awaiting Senate confirmation to permanently take the position, was involved in the Stop the Steal movement, which was animated by lies about fraud after Trump lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden. Martin also served on the board of a nonprofit that raised money for Capitol riot defendants and their families and legally represented at least three defendants in Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot criminal cases, including a Proud Boys member who pleaded guilty to felony charges.
In the email announcing the new unit, Martin recounted uncovering voter registration fraud while serving as chairman of the Board of Elections in St. Louis years ago. That led to the implementation of accountability measures to make sure that electronic machines had a paper trail, he wrote.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/ed-martin-us-attorney-election-fraud-trump-2cd97f08064705e3c0110b72d30d3578