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From CNBC: President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will pull his controversial nomination of Ed Martin to be the top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia.
Trump’s move came as Martin, who had drawn criticism for his advocacy of Jan. 6 Capitol riot defendants, faced the strong likelihood of the Senate not confirming him.
Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, on Tuesday said he would not support Martin’s nomination, dealing what appeared to be a final blow to his chance of winning confirmation.
Martin had served as defense counsel in Jan. 6-related cases. Tillis dug in his heels and refused to support him, which would then prevent Martin’s nomination from ever getting out of the committee.
Martin has been serving as interim, or acting U.S. Attorney for the District of D.C. since January 20. His term as acting US attorney is due to expire on May 20, 2025.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office Thursday morning, Trump said he’s disappointed that Martin can’t be confirmed for the role, but clarified that he will likely still be given a position at the Justice Department.
“He is a terrific person,” Trump said of Martin. “He wasn’t getting the support from people that I thought…. he’s done a very good job, crime is down 25% in D.C. during this period of time.”
“I can only lift that phone so many times in a day,” Trump said, indicating he had made many phone calls to Republican senators trying to get Martin’s nomination pushed through.
“We have somebody else that will be great. I just want to say, Ed is unbelievable. Hopefully we can bring him into, whether it’s DOJ or whatever, in some capacity,” Trump added.
“I have to be straight. I was disappointed. A lot of people were disappointed. But that’s the way it works sometimes. That’s the way it works. And he wasn’t rejected, but we felt it would be very — it would be hard. And we have somebody else that we’ll be announcing over the next two days who’s going to be great,” Trump said.
WATCH BELOW:
.@POTUS on Interim U.S. Attorney for DC Ed Martin: “He is a terrific person. He wasn’t getting the support… Hopefully we can bring him into DOJ in some capacity… I was disappointed… But that’s the way it works sometimes… We have somebody else we’ll be announcing over the… pic.twitter.com/Q9YcPiEBEN
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 8, 2025
Multiple conservatives are already calling for Tillis to be primaried.
I was sentenced to nearly 3 years in prison—not for violence on J6, but for standing my ground and refusing to bow to a rigged political prosecution.
Now Senator Thom Tillis wants to block Ed Martin—one of the few fighting for real justice.
We see you, @SenThomTillis. pic.twitter.com/0t2JNe9pqW
— John Strand (@JohnStrandUSA) May 6, 2025
BREAKING: President Trump withdraws Ed Martin’s nomination as Top DC Prosecutor.
This is because Senator Thom Tillis sided with all the Democrats and refused to confirm him.
Thom Tillis will not be re-elected to the Senate, the American people aren’t happy about this. pic.twitter.com/v4iZ9ETcLS
— Ian Jaeger (@IanJaeger29) May 8, 2025
Ed Martin’s a good friend and man.
During his 120-day appointment as DC U.S. Attorney, we’ve already seen violent crime drop substantially.
Too many of our weak Senate Republican sisters are offended by Ed’s political work.
So Trump will have Ed go break more china elsewhere.
— 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) May 8, 2025
READ MORE from CNBC.
BREAKING: Key GOP senator says he won’t back Trump pick for US attorney for DC
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