Ed Martin to Depart DOJ Weaponization Working Group

Ed Martin, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump and director of the Justice Department's Weaponization Working Group, is set to depart the department in the coming weeks, sources familiar with the matter said. The move follows efforts by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to curtail Martin's influence within the agency.

Martin joined the Trump administration shortly after the president's inauguration in January 2025, when he was named interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. In that role, he took steps aligned with administration priorities, such as reassigning senior prosecutors involved in January 6-related cases and pledging support for staff at the Department of Government Efficiency. However, his nomination for the permanent position stalled in the Senate, prompting Trump to withdraw it in May 2025. Trump then reassigned Martin to multiple roles, including pardon attorney and head of the Weaponization Working Group, established by Attorney General Pam Bondi under an executive order to examine allegations of political bias in federal law enforcement.

Sources said Martin's departure stems from actions taken by Blanche, Trump's former personal attorney who...