Justice Department Official Ed Martin Accused Of Ethics Breach For Letter To Georgetown Dean

WASHINGTON — The agency that enforces morals standards for attorneys successful nan nation’s superior has accused Justice Department charismatic Ed Martin of master misconduct for a threatening missive that he sent to Georgetown Law School’s dean past year, erstwhile Martin was nan apical national charismatic for Washington.

Martin was nan interim U.S. lawyer for nan District of Columbia erstwhile he warned nan Georgetown dean that his agency wouldn’t prosecute nan backstage school’s students if it didn’t destruct diversity, equity and inclusion programs, according to morals charges revenge Friday by nan Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

An ardent Trump loyalist who is now nan Justice Department’s pardon attorney, Martin is accused of violating his oath of agency and nan Constitution’s authorities to free reside and owed process. Disciplinary Counsel Hamilton Fox, who revenge nan morals charges against Martin, is asking a sheet of D.C. Court of Appeals officials to determine whether immoderate subject is warranted.

Martin and an lawyer representing him successful nan matter didn’t instantly respond to emails seeking comment. He has 20 days to formally respond successful writing.

After Martin learned of nan accusations against him past year, he sent a missive addressed to D.C. Court of Appeals judges successful which he complained astir Fox’s “uneven behavior” and requested a “face-to-face gathering pinch each of you to talk this matter and find a measurement forward,” according to Fox’s filing.

Deputy Atty. Gen. Todd Blanche criticized nan complaint against Martin arsenic nan merchandise of “a blatantly Democrat-run governmental organization.” A Justice Department connection said nan title fits a “partisan organization’s agenda“ to punish Trump management officials while ignoring ethical lapses by authorities attorneys who worked nether Democratic Presidents Biden and Obama.

“Let america not hide that DC-barred members of Biden’s typical counsel were recovered to person acted against President Trump without ineligible authority and successful clear usurpation of nan Constitution, yet nan barroom did nothing,” nan department’s connection said.

Martin was a blimpish activistic pinch nary prosecutorial acquisition erstwhile Trump picked him successful January 2025 to lead nan nation’s largest U.S. attorney’s office. Martin was a starring fig successful Trump’s “Stop nan Steal” activity aft nan 2020 statesmanlike election.

In a February 2025 missive to Georgetown Law Dean William Treanor, Martin said a whistleblower informed him that nan rule schoolhouse “continues to beforehand and thatch DEI.” The missive dovetailed pinch an executive bid that Trump signed to telephone for ending DEI programs successful nan national government.

“This is unacceptable,” Martin wrote, informing nan dean that his agency wouldn’t see immoderate Georgetown rule students for jobs, summertime internships aliases fellowships until his “letter of inquiry” was resolved.

In response, Treanor told Martin that nan 1st Amendment prohibits nan authorities from dictating what Georgetown’s module teaches aliases really to thatch it.

“Given nan First Amendment’s protection of a university’s state to find its ain program and really to present it, nan law usurpation down this threat is clear, arsenic is nan onslaught connected nan University’s ngo arsenic a Jesuit and Catholic institution,” Treanor wrote.

Trump pulled Martin’s information to support nan occupation connected a much imperishable ground aft a cardinal Republican legislator said he could not support Martin for nan occupation owed to his outspoken defense for Trump supporters who stormed nan U.S. Capitol connected Jan. 6, 2021.

In May, Trump picked Fox News big Jeanine Pirro to switch Martin arsenic U.S. attorney. Martin remains nan Justice Department’s pardon lawyer but was precocious removed arsenic caput of its “Weaponization Working Group,” which is tasked pinch scrutinizing nan national prosecutions of Trump.

Kunzelman writes for nan Associated Press. AP writer Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.