Trump Official Ed Martin Exits DOJ for Election Legal Battles.

President Trump announced Friday that Ed Martin will leave the Justice Department to pursue election-related legal work for Republicans in 2026 and 2028.

• Martin served as acting D.C. U.S. Attorney starting on Inauguration Day, January 2025.
• His permanent nomination for D.C. U.S. Attorney collapsed after Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., opposed it.
• Trump then moved him to roles not requiring Senate confirmation: pardon attorney and Weaponization Working Group director.
• Martin was removed from the Weaponization Working Group in February 2026 but remained pardon attorney until now.

Why it matters: Martin's departure signals a shift of Trump-aligned legal firepower toward the 2026 and 2028 election cycles.

• Trump and allies have spent months laying groundwork for potential fraud claims related to the 2026 midterms.

How 12 sources split on this story

Where they split: Coverage splits on whether Martin's departure reflects a strategic political deployment or a pattern of notable administration exits.

What’s next: Martin enters the private sector. No organization has been named publicly.

• Jeanine Pirro was previously named D.C. U.S. Attorney after Martin's nomination failed.
• What organization or role will Martin take on in the private sector?
• What specific legal strategies will he pursue around the 2026 midterms?