Top DC Prosecutor Compares Jan. 6 Charges to Japanese Internment

Ed Martin, the interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., has expanded his investigation into charges brought against Jan. 6 rioters under the obstruction statute, comparing these prosecutions to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Martin's inquiry, dubbed 'The 1512 Project,' aims to scrutinize the reasoning behind the widespread use of 18 U.S. Code § 1512(c)(2) for these cases. This move has sparked controversy, with critics, including a former prosecutor, condemning the comparison as 'grotesque.' The investigation follows a Supreme Court decision that narrowed the application of the obstruction statute, determining it should only apply in cases of evidence tampering. Martin, who has been accused of political bias, previously oversaw pardons for many Capitol rioters and has been involved in firing prosecutors. His office is also looking into alleged leaks related to the Jan. 6 prosecutions, which he claims compromised the integrity of the cases.