A key Republican senator said Tuesday he would oppose President Donald Trump’s pick to be U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, casting doubt on the confirmation chances of the controversial nominee who represented defendants charged in the 2021 attack on the Capitol.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told reporters that he would not vote for Ed Martin. He met with Martin on Monday and said the disagreement was for support for those who entered the building as a joint session of Congress was counting presidential election results.
“I need somebody in that role who believes that every single person that came into this building illegally should have suffered some consequence,” Tillis said.
“I’m thinking about future January 6ths, but we got to make it very clear, you come into this Capitol, you’re going to get fined, you’re going to go to prison. You made a bad mistake. No rationalization,” Tillis said.
Senate Democrats have long opposed Martin’s nomination and even made a formal complaint against Martin with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel last month, asking for an investigation and saying his actions might constitute professional misconduct.
The lawmakers pointed to a situation in which they say Martin, acting in the interim role, moved to dismiss charges against a Jan. 6 defendant he represented.
The support of Tillis could be critical, since Republicans hold a 12-10 advantage on the Senate Judiciary Committee. His announcement added uncertainty to what would happen at the panel.
Tillis said it would be up to Chair Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, and the Trump administration if they want to move forward with Martin’s nomination.
Trump touted Martin’s nomination in a post on his website Truth Social on Monday night, calling his confirmation “IMPERATIVE,” to the administration’s efforts to improve Americans’ health.
“Ed is coming up on the deadline for Voting and, if approved, HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. When some day in the future you look back at your Vote for Ed Martin, you will be very proud of what you have done for America and America’s Health. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump posted.
Grassley did not list Martin’s nomination on the committee agenda for a business meeting Thursday. A spokesman for Grassley, when asked about the Martin bid, sent a link to a social media post from an NBC reporter that quotes the senator as saying he wants “to put people on the agenda that I can help the President be successful in his nominees and and that’s all I can say at this point.”
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said Trump “is the driver on this nomination,” and that he had a high priority for seeing a permanent nominee ahead of the 250th anniversary celebrations next year in D.C., where the U.S. attorney serves as primary prosecutor for criminal charges.
“The District is very important. We’re about to have the world at our doorstep for the 250th anniversary, and you have the District, the District needs to get a lot of attention. The District is not safe,” Hawley said.
Hawley said that Martin was initially slated to serve as chief of staff for Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, before being selected for the U.S. attorney role. “So my point is that’s really, that’s the president’s choice,” Hawley said.
White House spokesman Alex Pfeiffer posted on social media Tuesday in support of Martin. “Ed Martin is a fantastic U.S. Attorney for D.C. and will continue to implement the President’s law-and-order agenda in Washington. He is the right man for the job and we look forward to his confirmation,” Pfeiffer wrote.
Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., said that “in practical terms” Martin’s nomination is likely finished, although Republicans could still pursue his nomination. Martin still has a few more weeks as the acting U.S. attorney, “but the writing is on the wall.”
Martin, who went to Saint Louis University School of Law, previously worked as president of the Eagle Forum Education and Legal Defense Fund and served as chief of staff to former Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt. He was chairman of the Missouri Republican Party and ran for a congressional seat in Missouri.
Democrats say Martin is wholly unqualified for the position, and have outlined a torrent of objections about Martin, arguing he’s abused his current role by using the threat of prosecution to chill citizens’ speech and intimidate government workers.
Ryan Tarinelli contributed to this report.
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