Another high-profile Trump appointee hits the exits

Justice Department pardon attorney Ed Martin is leaving the Trump administration, adding to a string of high-profile departures.

In a Friday post, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Martin will be leaving "as an Attorney, Director of the Weaponization Working Group, and the United States Attorney of the District of Columbia," and added, "Ed is now leaving to go outside to fight Legal Battles for the upcoming Midterm Election, and Presidential Election of 2028."

Trump appointed Martin in May 2025 and named him director of the DOJ's Weaponization Working Group. Earlier, on Inauguration Day, Trump installed him as interim U.S. Attorney for D.C., then in February of that year nominated him for the permanent post. That nomination collapsed when Republican senators (notably Thom Tillis) wouldn't advance him over his defense of Jan. 6 rioters, so Trump pulled it and moved him into the DOJ roles that don't require Senate confirmation.

He was removed from the Weaponization Working Group in February 2026, but a DOJ spokesperson said he continued as pardon attorney.