WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding President Trump’s announcement that he will withdraw Ed Martin’s nomination to be U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia:
“Ed Martin’s commentary and affiliations left no doubt that he was not qualified to serve as the top law enforcement official for our nation’s capital. Nearly every day, new disqualifying information surfaced—including a history of judge intimidation; downplaying the January 6 insurrection and attacking prosecutors and law enforcement officers who were assigned to work on January 6 cases or defended the Capitol on that day; and his close ties to Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, a January 6 rioter and Nazi sympathizer, just to name a few.
“Mr. Martin’s record made it clear that he does not have the temperament or judgment to be entrusted with the power and responsibility of being U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. I’m relieved to see that his nomination will be withdrawn by the White House.”
Shortly before the President’s announcement, Durbin laid out his stark opposition to Martin’s nomination in a speech on the Senate floor. Durbin also noted that Martin failed to disclose to the Senate an unprecedented amount of required information. Of approximately 2,200 writings or remarks that he was required to submit to the Senate Judiciary Committee, he omitted at least 700 items—more than 30 percent of his known record. Making clear that Mr. Martin is not qualified to serve as a U.S. Attorney, Durbin once again pressed his Republican colleagues to oppose Martin’s nomination.
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
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