President Trump’s nominee for D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin appears to be facing skepticism from the Senate Judiciary Committee, Republican members of which met this week to discuss the seemingly endless baggage and politically motivated acts that Martin has and will likely continue to mix into his work if officially confirmed to the position. Republicans on the panel also reportedly discussed whether to consider their Democratic colleagues’ requests to hold a hearing on Martin’s confirmation.
It appears a few Republican members have some hangups about the guy.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) is the only Republican thus far to publicly acknowledge Martin might not be a great fit for the job. He’s been saying as much since February. According to CNN, Tillis said this week that he has “serious questions” about Martin’s nomination, specifically noting that his past remarks criticizing police officers who defended the Capitol on January 6 gave him pause. Martin, of course, also represented Jan. 6 defendants.
“I’m talking about somebody who wants to be [U.S. attorney] in the jurisdiction where that event and future events could possibly occur,” Tillis told CNN.“And I’m going to have to get some pretty fulsome responses for me to feel comfortable with this nomination.”
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) made a pseudo acknowledgment this week that some of his fellow Republicans on the panel may not be completely sold on Martin serving in a permanent capacity, CNN reported.
“We’ve had people on our staff that had more questions,” he said, according to CNN.
In an email to TPM Thursday, Josh Sorbe, spokesperson for Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Durbin’s and other Democrats’ effort to shed light on how unqualified Martin is for the position — as evidenced by how he has used the gig (in an acting capacity) thus far to carry out Trump’s retribution agenda.
“Ranking Member Durbin and Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats will continue to scrutinize Ed Martin’s deeply problematic record and make the case that he is not fit to be a U.S. Attorney. Ranking Member Durbin will call for a vote on holding a hearing if and when the Committee decides to move forward with the nomination,” he said.
A source familiar with Martin’s nomination told TPM that, “at this time Martin doesn’t have the votes to be approved.”
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) similarly told TPM in an emailed statement that he stands with fellow Senate Democrats in urging Grassley to hold a hearing on Martin’s nomination.
“The American people deserve transparency on Ed Martin’s nomination to be the next U.S. Attorney for DC. His previous comments in support of The Big Lie and association with January 6th insurrectionists have raised serious concerns and make it necessary to more closely examine his qualifications for one of the country’s top law enforcement roles,” Padilla told TPM. “I stand with my fellow Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in continuing to call on Chairman Grassley to immediately hold a hearing on Ed Martin’s nomination.”
While Durbin may be holding off on demanding a hearing for now, he was one of several Judiciary Committee Democrats who last month, in a letter to Grassley, requested that the chairman consider holding a hearing on Martin’s nomination. In the April 2nd letter, Senate Democrats argued that Martin “abused his position in multiple ways since being named Interim U.S. Attorney.”
One GOPer Not Cool With Handing Congress’ Authority To Trump
In response to White House budget director Russ Vought canceling a meeting on Thursday with House Republicans on the appropriations committee, Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) lashed out at the Trump White House for continuing to keep GOP leaders in the dark about the sweeping DOGE cuts, among other things. He said Trump is not the “commander” of Congress. Per Politico:
Those leaders are increasingly vexed that the White House budget office has not shared details of the funding cuts it is already undertaking at federal agencies and its plans for the fiscal year that starts in October.
“Look, no president — and administrations — don’t get to dictate what’s going to happen here,” Cole told reporters Thursday morning. “Congress is not the Army. And the president is the president, but not the commander in chief of Congress.”
SignalGate Claims A Victim
Mike Waltz is out as national security adviser. More from CBS News:
President Trump said Thursday he’s nominating Waltz to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as national security adviser, Mr. Trump said. Waltz will need to be confirmed by the Senate for the ambassador role.
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Hardly seems like appropriate action for the breach of security. But I guess Trump has no need for other countries so maybe it’s a good place to stash Waltz. Might even be seen as “approval” for Waltz’s actions…
there must be some sort of statute of limitations on putting ‘gate’ at the end of every scandal? and whatever it is, it has to be less than 50 years… right?
Ed Martin will be confirmed as Republicans fall in line.
That is in the end at least 50 of the 53 Republicans in the Senate, and I predict one of those will be Thom Tillis, after public hand wringing, will vote to confirm Martin.
From where I sit, Ed Martin has the votes to be confirmed as nothing more than a crazily immature nut case, serial fabulist and undistinguished lawyer.
Glad to see Durbin is stirring himself to maybe perhaps think about asking to pretend to have hearings which will be ignored and Martin will be appointed.
After 44 years in Congress and at 82 next election at least he’s finally shuffling off. Hopefully we get someone who understands that the fight is existential to replace him.