Ranking Member Raskin Demands DOJ Records Explaining Abrupt Demotion, Reported Potential Firing of Ed Martin
Amid Reports That Martin Illegally Shared Grand Jury Information, Raskin Presses Bondi to Confirm What Finally Prompted Action After Long History of Misconduct
Washington, D.C. (February 11, 2026)—Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, is demanding answers from Attorney General Pam Bondi pressing for documents and information explaining the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) abrupt decision to strip Ed Martin of his leadership role in the DOJ’s Weaponization Working Group and reported plans to force him out of the Department altogether.
“Given how much of Mr. Martin’s flagrant misconduct you have been willing to overlook as you championed and promoted him, anything that finally prompted you to remove him—including any criminal disclosure of grand jury materials—must be spectacularly egregious. Congress and the American people deserve to know: what is the unforgivable offense that finally, after all his wild transgressions and all your humiliating passivity, cost Ed Martin his job,” wrote Ranking Member Raskin.
Recent reports indicate that Mr. Martin may have illegally shared sensitive grand jury information with unauthorized individuals and improperly deputized outside actors to assist with federal investigations. A DOJ review reportedly concluded that Mr. Martin disclosed grand jury material related to investigations of Senator Adam Schiff and then lied about doing so. A federal grand jury in Maryland has also examined whether Mr. Martin deployed unauthorized individuals to participate in sensitive investigations.
Improper disclosure of grand jury material is a serious violation of DOJ rules and may constitute criminal conduct.
Mr. Martin was hired despite publicly referring to the January 6 attack as “Mardi Gras in DC,” failing to disclose approximately 150 appearances on Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik, and maintaining close ties to extremist figures, including a Nazi sympathizer who praised Adolf Hitler. He was retained even as Senators from both parties refused to support his nomination to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
While serving at DOJ, Mr. Martin demoted and fired career prosecutors who handled January 6 cases, sent threatening letters to Democratic Members of Congress under the banner of “Operation Whirlwind,” and oversaw politically motivated investigations targeting President Trump’s perceived enemies, including Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, Senator Adam Schiff, and many others.
Under his watch as Pardon Attorney, DOJ granted clemency to dozens of Trump allies and loyalists, including participants in the fake electors scheme, convicted public officials, a cryptocurrency billionaire with business ties to the Trump family, and disgraced former Congressman George Santos.
Ranking Member Raskin is demanding that DOJ produce documents and communications related to Mr. Martin’s demotion or removal, any internal investigations or findings regarding misconduct, records related to potential grand jury violations or improper deputization, and any disciplinary or ethics complaints involving Mr. Martin.
Click here to read the letter.