D.C. Bar Ethics Complaint Targets Interim D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin Over Georgetown DEI Letter; DOJ Calls Probe Partisan
An ethics complaint filed by the D.C. Court of Appeals Board on Professional Responsibility alleges interim D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin used his office to pressure Georgetown Law—sending a letter demanding information about its DEI practices, threatening hiring sanctions, and engaging in unauthorized ex parte communications and alleged interference with the bar’s probe. The Justice Department called the complaint partisan, pointed to the disciplinary counsel’s past political donations and public criticism from DOJ officials, and Martin — who is also reportedly under a federal grand jury investigation into alleged improper disclosure of grand jury materials and has been demoted inside the Trump administration — has not publicly commented.
📌 Key Facts
- The D.C. Bar has opened a formal ethics investigation and disciplinary proceedings against interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin over his conduct toward Georgetown Law; the disciplinary charge was filed Friday and published Tuesday by the D.C. Court of Appeals Board on Professional Responsibility.
- Disciplinary Counsel alleges Martin violated D.C. ethics rules by demanding that Georgetown Law change its teachings, sending a letter seeking information about the school's DEI practices, and threatening hiring sanctions — including instructing his staff not to hire students, fellows or interns affiliated with Georgetown.
- The complaint accuses Martin of attempting to interfere with the bar inquiry, including unauthorized ex parte communications with the chief and senior judges of the D.C. Circuit in which he criticized disciplinary counsel, refused to respond, and requested a face‑to‑face meeting (copying White House counsel).
- Bloomberg Law, as reported in coverage of the case, says Disciplinary Counsel contends Martin’s actions amounted to threats against the school and violated local ethics rules.
- Martin is already the subject of a separate federal grand jury investigation into whether he illegally shared sensitive grand jury information targeting perceived political opponents and has been recently demoted and sidelined within the Trump administration.
- The Justice Department blasted the D.C. Bar complaint as partisan in an on‑the‑record statement, saying it 'targets and punishes those serving President Trump' while ignoring alleged Biden/Obama violations; DOJ’s No. 2 official Todd Blanche also called the D.C. Bar 'a blatantly Democrat‑run political organization' on X.
- The complaint was signed by D.C. Bar disciplinary counsel Hamilton Fox, who — according to FEC records cited in reporting — previously donated thousands of dollars to Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign.
- Martin has not publicly commented on the D.C. Bar investigation.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2024, more than 40% of White and Asian law school applicants scored 160 or higher on the LSAT, compared to only 11% of Black applicants and 19% of Hispanic applicants.
Racial disparities in admissions, scholarships remain in law schools, AccessLex Institute study finds — ABA Journal
LSAT scores are significantly correlated with first-time bar passage rates, with 73% of this relationship mediated by first-year law school GPA, and racial disparities in LSAT performance disadvantage Black and Hispanic students in bar exam outcomes.
Predicting Bar Success: The Mediating Effects of Law School GPA — AccessLex Institute
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms the disciplinary charge was filed Friday and published Tuesday by the D.C. Court of Appeals Board on Professional Responsibility.
- Details that the complaint alleges Martin violated the First and Fifth Amendments by using his government position to demand Georgetown Law change its teachings and by threatening hiring sanctions without giving the school a timeframe to respond.
- Describes that Martin, while interim U.S. attorney for D.C., sent a letter demanding information about Georgetown Law’s DEI practices and then instructed his staff not to hire students, fellows, or interns affiliated with the university.
- Reports that the complaint also accuses Martin of unauthorized ex parte communications with the chief and senior judges of the D.C. Circuit about the bar inquiry, in which he refused to respond, criticized disciplinary counsel’s 'uneven behavior,' and requested a face‑to‑face meeting, copying White House counsel.
- Adds an on‑the‑record Justice Department statement to Fox News blasting the complaint as a 'clear indication' of partisan treatment by the D.C. Bar that 'targets and punishes those serving President Trump' while refusing to act on alleged Biden/Obama violations.
- Notes that D.C. Bar disciplinary counsel Hamilton Fox, who signed the complaint, previously donated thousands of dollars to Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, according to FEC records cited by Fox News.
- Quotes DOJ’s second‑highest‑ranking official, Todd Blanche, on X calling the D.C. Bar 'a blatantly Democrat‑run political organization' and saying he is glad not to be a member.
- Confirms, via MS Now, that Ed Martin is now formally facing an ethics investigation and disciplinary proceedings from the D.C. Bar related to his conduct toward Georgetown Law.
- Adds that Bloomberg Law has reported the Office of Disciplinary Counsel alleges Martin violated local ethics rules by demanding Georgetown Law change what it teaches and by making threats against the school.
- Reports that Disciplinary Counsel also alleges Martin attempted to interfere with its investigation of his Georgetown-related conduct.
- Reiterates that Martin is already under federal grand jury investigation over whether he illegally shared sensitive grand jury information targeting perceived political enemies and notes he has been recently demoted and sidelined inside the Trump administration.
- Notes Martin has not yet publicly commented on the D.C. Bar investigation.