Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(166,934 posts)
Mon Feb 2, 2026, 03:20 PM 19 hrs ago

Ed Martin out as leader of DOJ's 'weaponization' group, sources say

Source: NBC News

Feb. 2, 2026, 2:30 PM EST


Trump loyalist Ed Martin is out as leader of the Justice Department’s “weaponization” effort that is investigating prosecutors who launched past probes into President Donald Trump and his allies, two people familiar with the discussions tell NBC News.

When asked whether Martin still served in the role, a Justice Department spokesman told NBC News that Martin continued to serve in a separate role, as pardon attorney. “President Trump appointed Ed Martin as Pardon Attorney and Ed continues to do a great job in that role,” according to the spokesman.

Martin had been serving as interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, but the longtime right-wing activist faced opposition from Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., a key member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Instead, Trump made Martin the pardon attorney and director of the “weaponization working group” established by Attorney General Pam Bondi in response to one of the president’s executive orders. Former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro was eventually named U.S. attorney for D.C.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/ed-martin-dojs-weaponization-czar-sources-say-rcna257093

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Ed Martin out as leader of DOJ's 'weaponization' group, sources say (Original Post) BumRushDaShow 19 hrs ago OP
So, we don't know which side instigated this fracture? AZJonnie 18 hrs ago #1
Sounds about right orangecrush 18 hrs ago #2
Justice Department expected to ramp up efforts to deliver on Trump's 'weaponization' priorities muriel_volestrangler 17 hrs ago #5
Nor has the M$M sanewashing AZJonnie 12 hrs ago #7
Whenever Trump/Miller shitcan somebody from one of his Revenge Rackets, something bad is coming Prairie Gates 17 hrs ago #3
As Trump's "pardon attorney" Griefbird 17 hrs ago #4
How hard is it to be Dump's pardon attorney mdbl 13 hrs ago #6

AZJonnie

(3,133 posts)
1. So, we don't know which side instigated this fracture?
Mon Feb 2, 2026, 03:35 PM
18 hrs ago

Were I to hazard a guess, in the end, not even a lickspittle toady like Martin was able to satisfy IQ47 with sufficiently "incriminating" stuff to leverage against his political enemies.

The primary obstacle to that being: it doesn't exist in the first place.

muriel_volestrangler

(105,791 posts)
5. Justice Department expected to ramp up efforts to deliver on Trump's 'weaponization' priorities
Mon Feb 2, 2026, 05:03 PM
17 hrs ago
Justice Department officials are expected to meet Monday to discuss how to reenergize probes that are considered a top priority for President Donald Trump — reviewing the actions of officials who investigated him, according to a source familiar with the plan.
...
But after a year, the group has not produced anything publicly.

In recent weeks, Trump has been pressuring Justice Department officials for results in these and other investigations, recently admonishing a group of US attorneys for failing to deliver on cases he wants brought.

The Weaponization Working Group is now expected to start meeting daily with the goal of producing results in the next two months, according to the person familiar with the plan.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/02/politics/justice-department-trump-weaponization-priority

The "we're weaponizing the DoJ by pretending the Democrats did it first" has never been more blatant.

AZJonnie

(3,133 posts)
7. Nor has the M$M sanewashing
Mon Feb 2, 2026, 09:43 PM
12 hrs ago

Wherein they're now just nonchalantly saying things like "Justice Department officials are expected to meet Monday to discuss how to reenergize probes that are considered a top priority for President Donald Trump" like this is just, you know, the normal course of operations for the DoJ, the POTUS tells them "what his priorities are" and then they do his bidding. No big, it's always been this way

Let me just say F*** YOU CNN

Prairie Gates

(7,482 posts)
3. Whenever Trump/Miller shitcan somebody from one of his Revenge Rackets, something bad is coming
Mon Feb 2, 2026, 04:42 PM
17 hrs ago

It's usually that even the completely cultish MAGA appointee can't bring themselves to do what Trump is asking them to do, or they recognize the long-term legal liability of following his orders. So off they go.

Ed Martin is a MAGA clown, so for him to say no means it's going to be very bad indeed.

Griefbird

(131 posts)
4. As Trump's "pardon attorney"
Mon Feb 2, 2026, 04:44 PM
17 hrs ago

Martin did a great job collecting millions for Trump from crooks, rapists, murderers and scoundrels.

mdbl

(8,243 posts)
6. How hard is it to be Dump's pardon attorney
Mon Feb 2, 2026, 08:49 PM
13 hrs ago

Finding the biggest white collar crooks first, then look for anyone else claiming to be a magat. The list is indefinite.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Ed Martin out as leader o...