In a move that has sent ripples through the political landscape, President Donald Trump declared on Thursday evening the appointment of Ed Martin as the Associate Deputy Attorney General at the Department of Justice. This role will see Martin juggling the responsibilities of both Pardon Attorney and the Director of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s newly established Weaponization Working Group.
This announcement comes hot on the heels of Trump’s withdrawal of Martin’s nomination for U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia—an interim role he has adeptly filled during Trump’s tenure. This shift was largely influenced by Republican pushback, notably from North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, over Martin’s sympathetic stance towards those involved in the January 6 events. Importantly, these new positions do not require Senate confirmation, allowing Trump to bypass potential roadblocks.
Adding a dramatic twist to the day’s events, Trump’s announcement followed an incident where Martin was spat on by an irate protester during a live interview with Newsmax. Perhaps this was a not-so-subtle reminder of the polarized climate surrounding Trump and his allies.
While the political elite may have believed they gained an upper hand today, Trump’s strategic appointments—such as naming his ally Judge Jeanine Pirro as interim D.C. U.S. Attorney, with an eye toward a Senate nomination—are poised to send shockwaves through the establishment. Furthermore, Martin’s new role in investigating the alleged weaponization of the Biden DOJ against American citizens is likely to raise eyebrows and perhaps some blood pressure in Washington.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his admiration for Martin’s past performance:
“Ed Martin has done an AMAZING job as interim U.S. Attorney, and will be moving to the Department of Justice as the new Director of the Weaponization Working Group, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Pardon Attorney. In these highly important roles, Ed will make sure we finally investigate the Weaponization of our Government under the Biden Regime, and provide much needed Justice for its victims. Congratulations Ed!”
On February 5, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the formation of the Weaponization Working Group via a memo to department employees:
February 5, 2025
MEMORANDUM FOR ALL DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES
FROM: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL~
SUBJECT: RESTORING THE INTEGRITY AND CREDIBILITY OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICEThe Department of Justice must take immediate and overdue steps to restore integrity and credibility with the public we are charged with protecting. These steps are required because, as President Trump pointed out after his second inauguration, “[t]he prior administration and allies engaged in an unprecedented, third-world weaponization of prosecutorial power to upend the democratic process.” Thus, “[t]he American people have witnessed the previous administration engage in a systematic campaign against its perceived political opponents, weaponizing the legal force of numerous Federal law enforcement agencies and the Intelligence Community.”
The reconciliation and restoration of the Department of Justice’s core values can only be accomplished through review and accountability. The Department has already started this process, but much more work is required. No one who has acted with good intentions has any cause for concern about efforts to root out corruption and weaponization. However, the Department will not tolerate abuses of the criminal justice process.
I hereby establish the Weaponization Working Group, which will be led by the Office of the Attorney General and supported by various offices to achieve its objectives. The group will conduct a review of the activities of all departments and agencies exercising civil or criminal enforcement authority over the last four years, consulting with the heads of those agencies to identify instances where conduct appears to have been designed to achieve political objectives rather than pursue justice.
This review will scrutinize various issues, including:
- Actions taken by Special Counsel Jack Smith and his team against President Trump, which reportedly cost over $50 million.
- Federal cooperation with local authorities, such as Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and NY Attorney General Letitia James, targeting Trump.
- Investigative tactics related to the January 6 events which may have diverted resources from addressing serious crime.
- Previous FBI assertions linking certain religious practices with violent extremism.
- The scrutiny of parents expressing concerns at school board meetings, as outlined in an earlier memorandum by former Attorney General Merrick Garland.
- Criminal prosecutions connected to non-violent protest activities and reprisals against whistleblowers.
President Trump’s executive order, titled Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government, emphasizes the need for corrective actions regarding past misconduct related to law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to identify and correct past misconduct by the Federal Government related to the weaponization of law enforcement.
Sec. 3. Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government. (a) The Attorney General, in consultation with the heads of all departments and agencies, shall review the activities of all agencies exercising civil or criminal enforcement authority over the last four years, preparing a report with recommendations for remedial actions.
In a show of gratitude, Martin took to social media to thank the President, stating, “Thank you, Mr. President. We will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Thank you, Mr. President.
We will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/7ANlyRMscm
— Ed Martin (@EagleEdMartin) May 8, 2025
