Woman Charged After Spitting on Ex-D.C. U.S. Attorney

Emily Gabriella Sommer, 32, was arrested and federally charged with assault after allegedly spitting on Ed Martin, the former interim U.S. Attorney for D.C., during a live Newsmax interview on May 8. The incident happened just hours after President Trump withdrew Martin's nomination for the permanent position amid Senate opposition and controversies related to Martin's defense of Jan. 6 rioters and past statements. Sommer confronted Martin on air, spat on his shoulder, and later boasted about the act on social media. Martin, whose brief tenure as acting U.S. Attorney was marked by controversy, has since been reassigned as DOJ pardon attorney and director of the Weaponization Working Group. Prosecutors requested GPS monitoring for Sommer, but the judge denied it, and her preliminary hearing is set for next month. The case has attracted attention due to Martin's contentious background and the political tensions tied to his DOJ roles.