DOJ Deputy AG Todd Blanche Sidelines Ed Martin and Absorbs Trump 'Weaponization' Task Force
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has effectively sidelined Ed Martin from leading the Justice Department’s internal "weaponization" working group, consolidating the previously dormant task force inside the deputy AG’s office and directing deputies to kick‑start a push to bring more cases in the coming months. Martin will keep the formal title of U.S. Pardon Attorney but has been marginalized — a move officials attribute both to a long‑running feud with Blanche and to perceptions that Martin was ineffective at producing the swift "revenge" cases sought by Trump — and he is reportedly considering leaving DOJ or moving to a White House role; Martin is a former Stop the Steal activist, lawyer for Jan. 6 defendants, and brief interim U.S. attorney for D.C.
📌 Key Facts
- Ed Martin has been sidelined from leading the Justice Department’s internal 'weaponization' working group but retains the formal title and duties of U.S. Pardon Attorney.
- Senior DOJ officials have effectively marginalized Martin as chief of the weaponization group while keeping him in the pardon attorney role.
- Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has consolidated the weaponization task force inside the deputy AG’s office and his deputies plan to 'kick‑start' the previously mostly dormant unit and bring more cases in the coming months.
- Sources attribute the change to both a long‑standing feud between Blanche and Martin (with Blanche said to 'loathe' Martin) and to senior officials viewing Martin as ineffective at rapidly pursuing the revenge cases that President Trump wants pursued 'immediately.'
- Martin’s background includes Stop the Steal activism, representing Jan. 6 defendants, a brief stint as interim U.S. Attorney for D.C., and serving as head of the weaponization group and as Pardon Attorney involved in Trump’s controversial clemency grants.
- Martin is reportedly considering leaving the Justice Department, possibly for a White House role, and associates say Blanche’s move is seen as designed to push him out.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms that Ed Martin has been 'sidelined' from leading DOJ’s internal 'weaponization' working group and is now working mainly as U.S. Pardon Attorney.
- Attributes the change to a long‑standing feud with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, whom sources say 'loathes' Martin.
- Reiterates Martin’s trajectory: Stop the Steal activist, lawyer for Jan. 6 defendants, brief stint as interim U.S. Attorney for D.C., then head of the weaponization group and Pardon Attorney involved in Trump’s controversial clemency grants.
- Confirms that Ed Martin will keep the formal title of pardon attorney but has been 'marginalized' as chief of the weaponization working group.
- Attributes Martin’s sidelining to senior DOJ officials viewing him as ineffective at bringing the revenge cases Trump wants pursued 'immediately.'
- Reports that Todd Blanche’s deputies plan to 'kick‑start' the previously 'mostly dormant' weaponization task force and bring more cases in the next several months, consolidating the unit inside the deputy AG’s office.
- Indicates Martin is considering leaving DOJ entirely, possibly for a White House role, and that people around him see Blanche’s move as designed to push him out.