Ed Martin, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, is expected to leave the Justice Department in the coming weeks after his influence inside the agency was sharply reduced, according to officials familiar with the matter.
Martin had been appointed interim US attorney for Washington in early 2025 but failed to secure Senate confirmation. After his nomination was withdrawn, he was placed in several Justice Department roles, including head of the Weaponization Working Group and US pardon attorney.
Sources say Martin’s authority was later restricted by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who oversees the department’s daily operations. Blanche reportedly limited Martin’s control over investigations and reassigned much of the group’s work to other officials.
Justice Department officials said Martin will continue serving as pardon attorney, where he has been reviewing clemency applications. However, he is no longer expected to lead politically sensitive investigations into Trump’s critics.
Martin had drawn attention for publicly supporting Trump’s claims of election fraud and for pushing to investigate political opponents, including New York Attorney General Letitia James. His actions prompted internal concern about adherence to prosecutorial norms.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has faced criticism over department management in recent weeks, and Blanche has taken on a more visible leadership role, including leading briefings related to the release of Epstein case documents.
It remains unclear where Martin will go next, though sources say he has recently spent time at the White House. His expected departure marks a shift inside the Justice Department as Trump’s administration restructures its approach to internal investigations.
