Trump Appoints Ed Martin as DOJ Weaponization Group Head; Jeanine Pirro Named Interim U.S. Attorney; NYC Lawmakers Seek Sanctuary Law Action

President Donald Trump has appointed Ed Martin as head of the Department of Justice's Weaponization Working Group and as Pardon Attorney, under Attorney General Pam Bondi. Martin, a conservative activist with no prior prosecutorial experience and a 120-day tenure as interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, will lead the group investigating prosecutors who previously investigated Trump and his allies. Jeanine Pirro has been named as the new interim U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C.

At a press conference in Washington, D.C., Martin stated that the Weaponization Working Group will 'name' and 'shame' individuals whom the Department determines it cannot charge with crimes. The group will examine the work of former Special Counsel Jack Smith, federal cooperation with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James, the DOJ's handling of January 6-related cases, and prosecutions of anti-abortion activists. Martin's appointment follows his involvement in the mass-pardon of January 6 defendants, as well as demotions and firings of prosecutors involved in Capitol attack cases.

The appointment has drawn criticism from House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin and other Democratic lawmakers, who argue that Martin is unfit for federal service due to his associations with individuals linked to antisemitic extremism and white nationalism. Raskin and colleagues have called on Trump to reverse the appointment.

Separately, a bipartisan group of New York City Council members, led by David Carr and the Common Sense Caucus, has sent a letter to Attorney General Bondi urging the DOJ to take legal action against New York City's sanctuary city laws. The lawmakers argue that these policies undermine federal immigration enforcement and public safety, and are seeking the expansion of existing DOJ legal action against New York State to include New York City.