History of Ed Martin (Missouri politician) in Timeline

Ed Martin is an American politician and attorney. He currently serves as the interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia (since 2025). He is also the president of Phyllis Schlafly Eagles, an organization that splintered from Eagle Forum. Furthermore, Martin holds the position of president within the Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund. His leadership roles indicate a focus on conservative activism and legal advocacy.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1997: Attended Thanksgiving dinner with Pope John Paul II

In 1997, while at law school, Ed Martin attended a Thanksgiving dinner with Pope John Paul II as the sole youth representative expert of the Synod of the Bishops on the Americas.

1998: Graduation with a J.D.

In 1998, Ed Martin graduated with a J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law and later earned a M.A. from Saint Louis University's Center for Health Care Ethics.

2005: Appointment as chairman and designing accountability portal

In 2005, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt appointed Ed Martin as chairman of the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners. He also headed the leadership team that designed and implemented the Missouri Accountability Portal.

2005: Representation of Illinois Pharmacists in Religious Rights Case

In 2005, while working for Americans United for Life, Ed Martin represented two Illinois pharmacists seeking relief from an administrative rule requiring them to dispense levonorgestrol, also known as "Plan B" or the "morning after pill". The court sided with Martin, granting a permanent injunction.

August 2006: Appointment as Chief of Staff by Governor Matt Blunt

In August 2006, Ed Martin was appointed as chief of staff by Governor Matt Blunt.

2006: Chief of Staff for Governor Matt Blunt

In 2006, Ed Martin served as chief of staff for Governor Matt Blunt.

2006: Representation of Small Business Owner Selling Caskets

In 2006, while doing pro bono work for the Institute for Justice and the Human Action Network, Ed Martin represented a small business owner selling caskets at discounted prices, arguing against a Missouri law requiring vendors of caskets to have a funeral director's license. The State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors sided with the small business owner.

November 2007: Resignation as Chief of Staff

In November 2007, Ed Martin resigned as chief of staff for Governor Matt Blunt amidst controversy surrounding the retention of emails and allegations of using his office to influence outside groups against political opponents.

2007: Improper Use of State Office

In 2007, Ed Martin used his state office improperly to encourage opposition to Attorney General Jay Nixon among anti-abortion groups.

2007: Linked to controversial firing of Scott Eckersley

In 2007, While serving as Blunt's chief of staff, Ed Martin's office had resisted providing his emails to an investigative reporter, who was investigating whether Martin used his office to influence outside groups against political opponents.

January 2008: Blunt's announcement to not seek second term

In January 2008, Matt Blunt surprised supporters by announcing he would not seek a second term.

February 2008: Appointment to Missouri State Parks Advisory Board

In February 2008, Governor Matt Blunt appointed Ed Martin as a member of the Missouri State Parks Advisory Board.

November 2008: Analysis of Emails Revealing Improper Influence

In November 2008, the Kansas City Star and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch analyzed 60,000 pages of emails obtained from the administration, revealing that Ed Martin had used his state office in 2007 improperly to encourage opposition to Attorney General Jay Nixon among anti-abortion groups.

2008: Founded American Issues Project

In 2008, Ed Martin founded the American Issues Project, a political group financed by Harold Simmons that ran anti-Senator Barack Obama TV ads during the 2008 United States presidential campaign. Martin also appeared on The O'Reilly Factor to discuss the group's commercials.

May 22, 2009: Settlement of Eckersley Lawsuit

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

November 2010: Loss in the general election to Russ Carnahan

In November 2010, Ed Martin lost the general election to incumbent Democrat Russ Carnahan while running for Missouri's 3rd congressional district.

2010: Defeat to Russ Carnahan

In 2010, Ed Martin challenged Democratic incumbent Russ Carnahan, but was defeated.

2010: Founded Term Limits for Missouri

In 2010, Ed Martin founded Term Limits for Missouri, which works to pass laws for term limits on all statewide elective positions in the state.

April 2011: End of term at Missouri State Parks Advisory Board

In April 2011, Ed Martin's term as a member of the Missouri State Parks Advisory Board ended.

January 26, 2012: Announcement of run for Missouri Attorney General

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.

2012: Unsuccessful run for Missouri Attorney General

In 2012, Ed Martin ran unsuccessfully for Missouri Attorney General as the Republican nominee.

January 5, 2013: Election as chairman of the Missouri Republican Party

On January 5, 2013, Ed Martin was elected chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, replacing David Cole.

2013: Election as Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party

In 2013, Ed Martin was elected Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party.

2013: Promotion of James T. Martin to Lt. Colonel

In 2013, Ed Martin's younger brother James T. Martin was promoted to Lt. Colonel in the Marine Corps.

2014: Criticism of race-based advertising in Republican primary campaign

In 2014, as party chairman, Ed Martin criticized advertising in the Republican primary campaign for the United States Senate election in Mississippi, 2014, which was marked by race-based ads appearing to encourage Democrats to vote in support of candidate Thad Cochran.

2016: Co-authored The Conservative Case for Trump

In 2016, Ed Martin co-authored The Conservative Case for Trump with Phyllis Schlafly and Brett M. Decker.

The Conservative Case for Trump

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2017: CNN Contributor

In 2017, Ed Martin was a CNN contributor.

2018: Unsuccessful run for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

In 2018, Ed Martin moved to Great Falls, Virginia, where he ran unsuccessfully for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

January 5, 2021: Participation in Stop the Steal rally

On January 5, 2021, Ed Martin spoke at a Stop the Steal rally, leading chants and claiming "they're stealing [...] our republic."

December 2024: Nomination for Chief of Staff for the Office of Management and Budget

In December 2024, Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Ed Martin for Chief of Staff for the Office of Management and Budget.

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.

January 2025: Appointment as Interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia

In January 2025, Ed Martin was appointed as interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia by Donald Trump, making him the first U.S. attorney for D.C. in at least 50 years without prior experience as a judge or federal prosecutor.

February 2025: Pledge of support to Elon Musk's 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), promising to "pursue any and all legal action against anyone who impedes your work or threatens your people".

March 13, 2025: Request for investigation into Martin

On March 13, 2025, representative Jamie Raskin asked the Justice Department's inspector general to launch an investigation into Ed Martin.

March 2025: Criticism for opposition to DEI

In March 2025, Ed Martin was criticized for telling the dean of Georgetown law school, William Treanor, that he would not hire anyone "affiliated with a law school or university that continues to teach and utilize DEI".

2025: Service as Interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia

In 2025, Ed Martin served as interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. He is also president of Phyllis Schlafly Eagles, which was split from Eagle Forum, and president of the Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund.