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Democrats File Complaint Against D.C. U.S. Attorney Over Allegations of Misconduct
Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, all Democrats, have formally lodged a complaint against Ed Martin, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, with the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel. The complaint accuses Martin of inappropriately dropping criminal charges against his own clients and allegedly threatening government employees to intimidate them.
In a letter penned by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who holds the position of ranking member on the Committee, the lawmakers expressed serious concerns regarding Martin’s actions. “These actions may constitute professional misconduct under the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct,” they indicated.
The letter, endorsed by all ten Democratic members of the Judiciary Committee, calls for an investigation by the disciplinary counsel, which operates under the oversight of the D.C. Court of Appeals, to determine whether Martin has breached any professional conduct rules as a member of the D.C. Bar.
The senators emphasized the critical role of integrity in the justice system, stating, “When a government lawyer in a leadership position in our foremost law enforcement agency commits serious violations of professional conduct, it undermines public confidence in our justice system.”
Specific allegations against Martin include his role as defense counsel for clients involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Lawmakers claim that Martin submitted a motion to dismiss charges against Joseph Padilla, while serving as acting U.S. attorney, inappropriately failing to recuse himself and creating a conflict of interest. This situation raised concerns about potential impropriety by utilizing governmental authority to assist individual clients.
Additionally, Martin represented William Chrestman, a member of the Proud Boys, who was sentenced to over four years in prison after pleading guilty to obstruction and threats against federal officers. The complaint highlights that Martin only withdrew from representing Chrestman after reviewing internal charges against him, suggesting a conflict of interest.
Democrats also allege Martin communicated with other defendants involved in the January 6 events, including a direct interaction with William Pope. This behavior raised further ethical questions about Martin’s capacity to serve as an impartial prosecutor while maintaining connections to individuals accused of serious crimes involving his office.
The senators assert that these actions likely conflict with the D.C. Bar’s regulations regarding representation of clients when there exists a potential adverse interest due to the attorney’s responsibilities. They expressed concern that Martin’s dual role could impede his duty to represent the U.S. adequately.
Furthermore, the complaint cites Martin’s “numerous extrajudicial statements” that allegedly contained threats of prosecution, potentially aimed at intimidating government employees and silencing private citizens. For instance, a social media post on February 3 and a letter directed to Elon Musk warned of legal action against anyone obstructing his work.
Martin has also made threatening remarks towards former special counsel Jack Smith, who previously managed criminal cases against former President Trump, and announced an investigation into Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer related to comments he made at a 2020 rally. However, Martin later abandoned the investigation after evaluating that Schumer’s statements did not constitute a prosecutable threat.
Democrats argue that Martin’s actions reflect a troubling pattern tied to broader efforts by Trump and his associates to undermine the principles of independence in Justice Department investigations and the rule of law. They urged the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel to address these serious allegations swiftly and appropriately.
As of now, Martin’s office has not responded to requests for comment on the allegations made against him.
Source
thehill.com