Ed Martin out as leader of DOJ's 'weaponization' group, sources say [View all]
Source: NBC News
Feb. 2, 2026, 2:30 PM EST
Trump loyalist Ed Martin is out as leader of the Justice Department’s “weaponization” effort that is investigating prosecutors who launched past probes into President Donald Trump and his allies, two people familiar with the discussions tell NBC News.
When asked whether Martin still served in the role, a Justice Department spokesman told NBC News that Martin continued to serve in a separate role, as pardon attorney. “President Trump appointed Ed Martin as Pardon Attorney and Ed continues to do a great job in that role,” according to the spokesman.
Martin had been serving as interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, but the longtime right-wing activist faced opposition from Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., a key member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Instead, Trump made Martin the pardon attorney and director of the “weaponization working group” established by Attorney General Pam Bondi in response to one of the president’s executive orders. Former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro was eventually named U.S. attorney for D.C.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/ed-martin-dojs-weaponization-czar-sources-say-rcna257093
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