Congressional aides of both parties believe that the nominee for U.S. attorney, Ed Martin, appears to have a solid chance of squeaking through on a party-line vote.
The Senate Judiciary Committee rarely holds hearings on nominees for U.S. attorney, typically referring them to the full chamber for a vote. But opponents of Ed Martin, President Trump’s pick for top federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., say his behavior demands the greater scrutiny that a public hearing would provide.
Since being named the acting U.S. attorney in January, Mr. Martin has challenged norms, and sunk morale, in one of the nation’s most important prosecutors’ offices, in Washington. He has ordered mass firings of lawyers who brought charges against Capitol rioters, hurled threats at political adversaries and strong-armed subordinates to take action they deemed inappropriate.
Despite the private misgivings of some Republicans, Mr. Martin appears to have a solid chance of squeaking through on a party-line vote in the view of congressional aides in both parties.
On Monday, a group of around 100 former assistant U.S. attorneys called on the Judiciary Committee’s chairman, Senator Charles Grassley, Republican of Iowa, to “set a public confirmation hearing” that permits witnesses, including prosecutors Mr. Martin fired, to testify against his confirmation.
“Martin’s flagrant misconduct is a danger to law enforcement, the rule of law, and the United States Constitution itself,” wrote one of the group’s organizers.
Senate Democrats are also expected to make a similar push for confirmation hearings later this week.