Washington, D.C. (May 13, 2025)—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, and Rep. Brad Schneider, issued the following statement detailing that Ed Martin is not fit to serve in any position in the federal government, citing his close association with neo-Nazis, white nationalists, and other antisemitic extremists:
“Ed Martin is unfit to serve in any capacity in the federal government. In the strongest possible terms, we urge Donald Trump to reverse his appointment to a senior position in the Department of Justice.
“Mr. Martin has had a long and troubling association with antisemites and Nazi sympathizers, particularly his relationship with the Hitler-loving insurrectionist Timothy Hale-Cusanelli. Prior to his conviction and four year prison sentence for his role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Mr. Hale-Cusanelli held ‘long-standing white supremacist and Nazi beliefs,’ wore a ‘Hitler mustache,’ advocated killing the disabled, and told coworkers that ‘Hitler should have finished the job.’ Judge Trevor McFadden—a Trump appointee—warned Mr. Hale-Cusanelli at his sentencing that his actions make Jewish people feel ‘less safe and less confident they can participate as equal members of our society.
“Mr. Martin seems not to appreciate that his close association with neo-Nazis makes nearly all Americans feel less safe. Mr. Martin has interviewed Mr. Hale-Cusanelli on his podcast multiple times, where the two have passionately defended the January 6 insurrection and discussed the latter’s Hitler mustache. Last August, at an awards ceremony staged at President Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, Mr. Martin praisedMr. Hale-Cusanelli as ‘an extraordinary man and extraordinary leader.’ The two attended President Trump’s inauguration together in January. In March, they appeared alongside each other at a fundraiser in Naples, Florida. Mr. Martin and Mr. Hale-Cusanelli are not casual acquaintances.
“When his nomination to U.S. Attorney was imperiled because of his hateful record, Mr. Martin backpedaled, claiming that he is ‘not close’ with Mr. Hale-Cusanelli. This attempt to downplay the relationship is laughable. Mr. Martin has known Mr. Hale-Cusanelli’s abhorrent views for years. In fact, on Mr. Hale-Cusanelli’s fourth extended interview on Mr. Martin’s podcast, Mr. Martin introduced the neo-Nazi as his ‘friend’ and an ‘amazing guy.’
“Mr. Martin’s association with white nationalists is not limited to his friendship with this one Nazi sympathizer. Mr. Martin has praised Jack Posobiec, an antisemitic conspiracy theorist with links to the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, and several white nationalist and neo-Nazi organizations. Mr. Martin frequently interacts with Mr. Posobiec online, calling his antisemitic insights ‘valuable’ and ‘incredible.’
“Mr. Martin’s own public life is anchored in a world of extremism. He maintains an account on Gab, a social media platform that the Anti-Defamation League characterizes as a ‘haven for hate and disinformation.’ On his podcast, he compared President Joe Biden to Adolf Hitler. In an episode about the 2024 election, he repeated the defamatory lie that Jewish people who vote for Democrats are somehow less Jewish.’
“It is possible that Mr. Martin does not understand that his casual antisemitism and long relationships with Nazi extremists make American Jewish communities less safe and make him wholly unfit to serve in the United States government. It is also possible that Mr. Martin knows exactly what he is doing, and that he will remember the dangerous friends he now claims to have forgotten as soon as he arrives at his new post in the Department of Justice.
“As Jewish members of the House of Representatives, we call on Donald Trump to reverse this deeply troubling appointment.”
