Trump Withdraws Ed Martin's Nomination for DC U.S. Attorney

President Donald Trump announced he is withdrawing Ed Martin's nomination for U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia due to insufficient support from senators, particularly Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Martin, who has served as interim U.S. Attorney since January, faced opposition because of his defense of Jan. 6 Capitol rioters and his controversial tenure, which included firing prosecutors and launching investigations into Democrats. Senator Tillis and other lawmakers expressed concerns about Martin's qualifications and actions, including his failure to initially disclose appearances on Russian state media. Despite Trump's disappointment, he indicated Martin would remain involved with the Justice Department in some capacity and that a new nominee would be announced shortly. The withdrawal reflects tensions within the Republican Party and highlights the political sensitivities surrounding the prosecution of Jan. 6-related cases. Martin's nomination was also opposed by former prosecutors and Democrats who criticized his ideological approach and conduct.