Ethics Charges Filed Against Justice Department Pardon Attorney Ed Martin for Coercive Actions at Georgetown Law Center
The disciplinary office overseeing attorney misconduct in Washington, D.C., has brought ethics charges against Justice Department pardon attorney Ed Martin. This action follows Martin's sending of a threatening letter to Georgetown University Law Center regarding its diversity and inclusion policies while he was interim U.S. attorney. In the letter, Martin raised concerns about the school's teachings on DEI and imposed sanctions by prohibiting his office staff from hiring students from Georgetown for various roles.
According to court filings, the D.C. Disciplinary Counsel accused Martin of violating the U.S. Constitution's First and Fifth Amendments by pressuring the law school to change its teachings on DEI. The filings allege that Martin used coercion to suppress a particular viewpoint and demanded that Georgetown Law compromise its free speech and religious rights to secure employment opportunities for its students.
The Justice Department criticized the D.C. Bar, labeling it a partisan organization for targeting individuals serving under President Trump while ignoring ethical violations by Biden and Obama administration attorneys. Martin has not yet responded to the allegations.
During his time as interim U.S. attorney, Martin faced controversy due to his past support for the Capitol rioters and his involvement in issuing pardons for those involved in the attack. Following his inability to secure Senate confirmation, Martin was replaced by Jeanine Pirro and reassigned within the Justice Department. Despite being stripped of his previous role, Martin continues to serve as the pardon attorney at the DOJ.