1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I write to express serious concern about Edward R. Martin Jr.’s appointment to dual roles within the Department of Justice: as U.S. Pardon Attorney and Director of the “Weaponization Working Group.” I ask that your office press for an immediate congressional review and demand that Mr. Martin resign or be removed from public office. My concern is grounded in the following: 1. Lack of prosecutorial experience & ethical risk. Mr. Martin does not have a substantial track record as a federal or state prosecutor. His nomination for U.S. Attorney for D.C. was withdrawn amid bipartisan objections over his qualifications and partisan actions. Moreover, he is currently under investigation by the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel for alleged ethics violations. 2. Political selective enforcement & retaliation risk. As interim U.S. Attorney, he restructured the office handling January 6 cases, replaced or demoted career prosecutors, and launched inquiries into politically prominent figures. He has publicly stated he will review and scrutinize pardons by the prior administration, signaling a partisan approach to clemency that departs from the traditional neutrality of the pardon office. His oversight of the Weaponization Working Group has raised warnings from legal experts that it may itself become a tool for political targeting. 3. Conflict of interest concerns. Past representations of January 6 defendants and actions taken while in interim prosecutorial roles raise questions about recusal obligations and the potential for favoritism or retaliation. The current system offers few statutory checks on this kind of consolidation of power in one individual. Given these facts, I urge the following actions by your office: • Request that the House Judiciary Committee hold oversight hearings examining Mr. Martin’s role, decisions, and ethical investigations. • Demand that the DOJ Inspector General or an independent counsel audit all pardons, prosecutorial decisions, and internal reassignments tied to Mr. Martin’s offices. • Push for legislation or rules that restore buffers and procedural safeguards to ensure the pardon process and DOJ’s prosecutions cannot be weaponized for partisan ends. • Publicly call for Mr. Martin’s resignation or removal so that the DOJ can preserve institutional integrity. I appreciate your attention to this urgent matter. In role as my representative, I ask you to defend the principle that justice must be blind and not become a political tool.