National Council of Jewish Women Leads Jewish Community Letter Expressing Deep Concern About the Nomination of Ed Martin as US Attorney for the District of Columbia
April 28, 2025
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Durbin, and Committee Members:
On behalf of the following eleven national Jewish organizations representing more than one million people across the United States, we write to express our deep concern about the nomination of Ed Martin to serve as US Attorney for the District of Columbia and strongly echo calls for a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Our organizations do not typically weigh in on nominees for this particular position. However, Mr. Martin’s conduct, record, and associations are too disturbing to go without comment.
Prior to becoming Interim US Attorney, Mr. Martin served as a prominent leader in the so-called “Stop the Steal” movement, which sought to overturn the results of the 2020 election. He was present on the grounds of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 and has since minimized the violence of that day while vilifying both law enforcement who protected the Capitol and the federal prosecutors who were assigned to work on January 6 cases. Indeed, since becoming Interim US Attorney for DC, Mr. Martin dismissed pending January 6 cases; fired at least a dozen experienced, trained, and apolitical prosecutors involved in the cases; and announced investigations against perceived political opponents of himself or President Trump.
Alarmingly, Mr. Martin has repeatedly aligned himself with individuals and organizations that promote antisemitic and extremist ideologies. Most disturbingly, he has publicly defended Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, a convicted January 6 rioter and known Nazi sympathizer who openly praised Adolf Hitler and once wore a Hitler-style mustache. Court filings from Mr. Hale-Cusanelli’s criminal trial noted that 34 of his co-workers told investigators that he held “extremist or radical views pertaining to the Jewish people, minorities, and women.” Rather than condemning Mr. Hale-Cusanelli’s hateful views, Mr. Martin dismissed the seriousness of some of his actions as “goofing around” and questioned the fairness of Mr. Hale-Cusanelli’s prosecution. Just last year, Mr. Martin presented Mr. Hale-Cusanelli with an award at the Trump Bedminster Club in New Jersey, calling him “an extraordinary man, an extraordinary leader.” And as recently as a few weeks ago, Mr. Martin gave the keynote address at a fundraiser for January 6 rioters, speaking after Mr. Hale-Cusanelli.
In addition, Mr. Martin has praised and shared platforms with white nationalist figures, including Jack Posobiec, an extremist influencer who has posted antisemitic content on social media. Mr. Martin has interacted with Mr. Posobiec’s X account more than 100 times since 2018, specifically highlighting Mr. Posobiec’s X usage as beneficial because he posts “really valuable stuff.” Mr. Martin also interviewed Mr. Posobiec on his show multiple times, praising him as “valuable in the current movement” and “incredible.”
These associations are not only dangerous — they reveal a pattern of behavior that is incompatible with the responsibilities of a US Attorney, a role meant to uphold justice and protect all communities, including Jewish Americans, from hate and extremism. Instead of championing the values of justice and equality, Mr. Martin has used his platform to amplify voices of hate and undermine our democratic systems, raising serious questions about his fitness to serve in any public role, especially one responsible for enforcing the law.
At a time when antisemitism is at an all-time high and hate-fueled violence is on the rise, we need a US Attorney who will meaningfully confront hate — not allow it to fester and grow. The individual entrusted with leading one of the largest US Attorney’s Offices in the country must be unwavering in upholding the rule of law — not working to erode democratic principles or aligning with individuals who espouse hate. This role demands principled leadership, a deep commitment to justice, and the courage to stand firmly against extremism in all its forms. Anything less undermines the safety of our communities and the integrity of our democracy.
We urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing and question Ed Martin under oath to explore his past actions, affiliations, and whether he can carry out the responsibilities of the office with integrity, fairness, and a commitment to justice. The Jewish community, and all communities vulnerable to hate, deserve leaders who will confront extremism, not enable it.
Sincerely,
National Council of Jewish Women
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
Democratic Majority for Israel
Keshet
J Street
Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)
Jewish Labor Committee
New Jewish Narrative
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
The Workers Circle
Zioness