U.S. Senator Ankit Jain Commends Senate Democrats for Bar Complaint Against Acting U.S. Attorney Ed Martin, Urges Defeat of Martin's Nomination

WASHINGTON, D.C.—United States Senator Ankit Jain (D-D.C.) issued a statement in response to an official complaint issued Thursday by 10 Democrats on the United States Senate Judiciary Committee against interim D.C. U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Esq. and in response to recent illegal actions taken by Martin.

The Democrats, led by U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, requested the District of Columbia Bar Association’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel investigate Mr. Martin for numerous violations of legal ethics.

Martin has used social media X/Twitter to threaten critics of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. He recently sent a letter threatening Georgetown Law with professional consequences if it did not reshape its curriculum to comply with Mr. Martin’s worldview.

Martin has purged nonpolitical career staff involved in the investigations of the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on law enforcement officers protecting the U.S. Capitol Building, has directed staff to take illegal actions, and has himself signed a warrant request despite his knowledge there was no probable cause a crime had been committed in the matter. His office is now woefully understaffed after he fired eight percent of his employees.

“I commend Senator Durbin and my fellow Democrats for challenging Mr. Martin’s abuse of power. As a member of the D.C. Bar, I know how seriously the Bar takes these kinds of complaints and I look forward to a favorable decision on this matter,” U.S. Senator Ankit Jain stated.

“From the minute Mr. Martin was nominated to this post in the Trump administration, I have been shocked by his purely partisan conduct. He is absolutely unfit for this important position in the District of Columbia. The mission of the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s office is to prosecute people who commit serious crimes in the District of Columbia. The person who holds this post should not be committing crimes of their own. Rather than focusing on reducing violent crime, Mr. Martin has weaponized his position, attempting to threaten and punish the president’s political opponents. His recent letter to Georgetown Law trying to dictate what curriculum they must teach was particularly egregious.”  Senator Jain added.

“I worry Mr. Martin’s unfitness for the job and lack of focus on prosecuting violent criminals will result in an increase in crime in our city. I have reached out to Mr. Martin on four separate occasions to request a meeting to discuss his plans for crime-fighting and prosecutions in D.C., and have yet to receive a response. At this point, I strongly urge the U.S. Senate to reject Mr. Martin’s nomination, and to use all tools available to ensure his nomination is defeated,” Sen. Jain concluded.

In addition to appointing an unqualified U.S. Attorney, the federal government has neglected its duty to nominate and confirm D.C.’s local judges, creating a judicial vacancy crisis in D.C. There are currently 11 vacancies within the D.C. Superior Court and D.C. Court of Appeals—with zero nominees pending.