Major Controversies Surrounding Ed Martin (Missouri politician): A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Ed Martin (Missouri politician)—discover key moments of controversy.

Edward Robert Martin Jr. is an American conservative activist, politician, and lawyer. He served as the Chair of the Missouri Republican Party from 2013 to 2015. In January 2025, he was appointed by President Donald Trump as the interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

2007: Used state office improperly

In 2007, Ed Martin used his state office improperly to encourage opposition to Attorney General Jay Nixon among anti-abortion groups, and pressured political appointees to criticize Nixon's handling of issues as AG.

November 2008: Newspapers Report on Emails

In November 2008, after a year-long battle to gain access, the Kansas City Star and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on 60,000 pages of emails obtained from the administration and found that Ed Martin had used his state office in 2007 improperly.

May 22, 2009: Lawsuit Settlement Announced

On May 22, 2009, the Missouri Attorney General's office announced that Scott Eckersley's lawsuit against Matt Blunt, Ed Martin, and others had been settled for $500,000.

2014: Criticized Race-Based Advertising

In 2014, as party chairman, Ed Martin criticized race-based advertising in the Republican primary campaign for the United States Senate election in Mississippi.

2016: Appeared on RT America and Sputnik

From 2016 to 2024, Ed Martin appeared more than 150 times on RT America and Sputnik, both of which are Russian state-controlled news agencies.

2016: Secretly Influenced Facebook Comments Criticizing Judge

In 2016, Ed Martin secretly influenced Phyllis Schlafly's employee Priscilla Gray to write Facebook comments criticizing Judge John Barberis on Barberis' Facebook page, after Barberis issued a ruling adverse to Martin.

2016: Removed from Eagle Forum Presidency

In 2016, Ed Martin was removed from his position as President of the Eagle Forum. Subsequently, a lawsuit was filed to bar Martin from any association with the group, and he was found liable for defamation and false light against Anne Schlafly Cori.

2020: Claims of Rigged Election

In 2020, Ed Martin claimed that the 2020 election was "rigged" and that Trump "won the election".

January 5, 2021: Spoke at rally

On January 5, 2021, Ed Martin spoke at a rally where he claimed, "What they're stealing is not just an election. It's our future and it's our republic."

2024: Appeared on RT America and Sputnik

From 2016 to 2024, Ed Martin appeared more than 150 times on RT America and Sputnik, both of which are Russian state-controlled news agencies.

2024: Banquet honoring Timothy Hale-Cusanelli

In 2024, Ed Martin's foundation hosted a banquet at Trump's Bedminster golf club honoring Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, a convicted Capitol riot participant, as an "extraordinary man".

February 2025: Pledge of support to DOGE

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

February 24, 2025: Criticism for Referring to Himself as "President Trump's Lawyer"

On February 24, 2025, Ed Martin faced criticism for referring to himself and fellow United States attorneys as "President Trumps' lawyers" in a post on X.

March 13, 2025: House Judiciary Committee Request for Investigation

On March 13, 2025, Representative Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, requested the Justice Department's inspector general to launch an investigation into Ed Martin, citing concerns about his actions.

March 2025: Criticism for DEI Hiring Comments

In March 2025, Ed Martin was criticized for telling the dean of Georgetown University’s law school that he would not hire anyone affiliated with a school that teaches DEI.

April 2025: Apology for Hale-Cusanelli event

In April 2025, Ed Martin apologized for hosting the banquet honoring Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, claiming he was unaware of the full extent of Hale-Cusanelli's views.

April 2025: Letters to Wikimedia Foundation and Medical Journals

In April 2025, Ed Martin sent a letter to Wikimedia Foundation accusing them of allowing manipulation and propaganda. Also in April 2025, he sent a threatening letter to The New England Journal of Medicine, accusing it of being partisan.

April 2025: Criticism from Former Prosecutors and The Kansas City Star

In April 2025, an open letter from over 100 former prosecutors criticized Ed Martin, and The Kansas City Star's editorial board deemed him unfit for the job.

May 2025: Opposition from Senator Thom Tillis

In May 2025, Republican Senator Thom Tillis announced his opposition to confirming Ed Martin, citing his involvement in Stop the Steal.

2025: ProPublica Report on Facebook comments

In 2025, ProPublica reported that after a judge issued a ruling adverse to Ed Martin in 2016, Martin secretly influenced Schlafly's employee to write Facebook comments criticizing the judge.