Ed Martin's D.C. Prosecutor Nomination Faces Key Republican Opposition

President Donald Trump's nomination of Ed Martin to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia faces significant obstacles after key Senate Republicans, particularly Sen. Thom Tillis, announced their opposition due to Martin's support for Jan. 6 Capitol riot defendants and his role in firing prosecutors involved in those cases. Tillis's stance is likely to prevent Martin's nomination from advancing out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as even a tie vote would block the nomination. Martin, a vocal Trump ally, has drawn criticism for his actions since becoming interim U.S. attorney, including launching probes into prominent Democrats and demoting senior prosecutors who handled sensitive cases. Critics, both Democratic and Republican, point to broader concerns over Martin's judgment, past disregard for court orders, and willingness to use his position to target political adversaries. The delay in the committee's agenda means Martin's interim tenure will likely expire before any confirmation vote can occur, at which point the federal court in Washington is expected to appoint a replacement. Despite support from President Trump and some Republicans, Martin's controversial record and the Senate opposition make his confirmation increasingly unlikely.