Trump loyalist Ed Martin has been stripped of his role leading the Justice Department’s “weaponization” working group, tasked with investigating prosecutors who pursued past investigations into the president 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, President Donald 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.
The working group is seeking to examine work including that of former special counsel Jack Smith; any federal cooperation with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who prosecuted Trump’s hush money case; the Justice Department’s handling of cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack; and criminal prosecutions of anti-abortion activists, among other issues.
An advocate for those arrested following the riot at the Capitol, Martin previously said he planned to “name” and “shame” individuals the department could not formally charge with crimes, a major departure from long-standing Justice Department policy.
Justice Department protocols state that officials generally shouldn’t confirm the existence of or otherwise comment on ongoing investigations. Martin said it was important to get “the truth” out when asked whether his plan would run afoul of those protocols.
It’s not clear who is heading the group now. Martin didn’t respond to a request for comment.
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