Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Ed Martin (Missouri politician)

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 10, 2026

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Ed Martin (Missouri politician) made an impact.

Edward Robert Martin Jr. is an American conservative activist, politician, and lawyer. He currently serves as the United States pardon attorney since May 2025. Before that, he was the interim United States attorney for the District of Columbia from January to May 2025, a position he assumed following an appointment by President Donald Trump. Martin also held the position of chair of the Missouri Republican Party from 2013 to 2015, highlighting his involvement in Republican politics at the state level.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

January 26, 2012: Dropped out of Congressional Race

On January 26, 2012, Ed Martin announced he was dropping out of the Congressional race, and filed to run for Missouri attorney general against incumbent Democrat Chris Koster.

January 5, 2013: Elected Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party

On January 5, 2013, Ed Martin was elected chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, defeating incumbent chair David Cole and former Missouri State Senator Jane Cunningham.

2014: Criticism of Republican Primary Campaign Ads

In 2014, Ed Martin, as party chairman, criticized the race-based advertising and robo-calls in the Republican primary campaign for the United States Senate election in Mississippi. He condemned the use of attack ads referencing an opponent's race and questioned the Republican party's credibility and moral standing, further moving to censure RNC member Henry Barbour at the annual RNC summer meeting.

January 20, 2025: Appointment as Interim US Attorney

On January 20, 2025, Ed Martin was appointed as the interim US attorney for the District of Columbia, shortly after Donald Trump was sworn in as president.

February 2025: Pledge of Support to Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

In February 2025, Ed Martin publicly pledged his office's support to Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Martin promised to pursue legal action against anyone impeding DOGE's work, amid controversy surrounding DOGE's actions at federal agencies.

May 8, 2025: Withdrawal of Nomination

On May 8, 2025, President Trump announced that he would withdraw Ed Martin's nomination, and later that day, announced that Martin was to be replaced as the interim appointee by Jeanine Pirro.

May 13, 2025: Appointment as Pardon Attorney

On May 13, 2025, Ed Martin announced he would serve as pardon attorney, vowing to review the Biden administration's outgoing pardons and investigate what he called "weaponization" of the justice system.

May 2025: Opposition to Confirmation and Withdrawal of Nomination

In May 2025, Senator Thom Tillis announced his opposition to confirming Ed Martin permanently due to his involvement in Stop the Steal. In May 2025, Trump withdrew Martin's nomination and named Jeanine Pirro as his replacement on May 8, 2025.