Conservative Attorneys & Jan. 6 Prosecutors Issue Letter Calling on DC Court of Appeals to Investigate Ed Martin
Sent by an alliance of leading conservative lawyers and former Jan. 6 prosecutors, the letter says Martin’s actions display a “fundamental misunderstanding of the role of a federal prosecutor.”
WASHINGTON – Members and leadership of the Society for the Rule of Law Institute, along with former prosecutors of the January 6 federal cases, issued a letter requesting a disciplinary investigation into Ed Martin, interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
The letter was submitted to the D.C. Court of Appeals’ Office of Disciplinary Counsel, and argues that Martin’s basic misunderstanding of his role and flagrant violations of his obligations of professional responsibility warrant investigation and sanction.
The Society is a nationwide membership organization of conservative attorneys and others who support the rule of law and America’s legal institutions. The letter was signed by the following individuals in their personal capacities:
- Brendan Ballou, former Justice Department Special Counsel for Private Equity and January 6 prosecutor
- Matt Beckwith, former Assistant United States Attorney and January 6 prosecutor
- Sean Brennan, former Assistant United States Attorney and January 6 prosecutor
- Barbara Comstock, Board Member, Society for the Rule of Law Institute; former Congresswoman representing Virginia’s 10th District
- George Conway, Board President, Society for the Rule of Law Institute
- Stuart Gerson, Board Treasurer, Society for the Rule of Law Institute; former Acting Attorney General of the United States
- Isia Jasiewicz, former Assistant United States Attorney and January 6 prosecutor
- J. Michael Luttig, Former Judge, United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- Gregg Nunziata, Executive Director, Society for the Rule of Law Institute; former Chief Nominations Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary
- Mike Romano, former Public Integrity Section Trial Attorney and January 6 prosecutor
The letter reads, in part:
“We are a group of attorneys dedicated to the protection of the rule of law in Washington, D.C. and beyond. Several of us previously served as Justice Department attorneys. We write today to urge you to investigate Edward R. Martin, Jr.’s violations of the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct and subject him to appropriate sanction […]
“Mr. Martin’s position is one of enormous responsibility, and one whose work ranges from prosecuting local crime in the District to leading important national security investigations and prosecutions. He has used his brief time in office to demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of a federal prosecutor, announcing investigations against his political opponents, aiding defendants he previously represented, and communicating improperly with those he did not.
“These actions are not worthy of the Department of Justice, undermine the Constitutional guarantee of equal protection of law, and violate Mr. Martin’s professional obligations.”
“A United States Attorney wields vast powers and must be held to the highest standards of legal ethics and professional responsibility,” said Gregg Nunziata, executive director of the Society for the Rule of Law Institute, and a signatory on the letter. “Unfortunately, in just a few months on the job, Mr. Martin has repeatedly demonstrated his brazen misunderstanding of the nature of his office, his oath, and his ethical obligations. This behavior threatens the rule of law and warrants immediate investigation and probable sanction.”
“The only thing a lawyer has is his or her credibility. The conservative lawyers signing this letter have a great deal,” said Brendan Ballou, former Justice Department Special Counsel for Private Equity and January 6 prosecutor, and a signatory on the letter. “Through his actions, Mr. Martin has shown very little. It’s important that an investigation be opened into Mr. Martin’s conduct, before he does permanent harm to the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
For more information, or to be connected with spokespeople regarding the letter, please contact [email protected].
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