Overview

• Sen. Thom Tillis has informed the White House he will not support Ed Martin’s nomination for U.S. Attorney for D.C., citing concerns over Martin’s defense of January 6 defendants.
• With Republicans holding a narrow 12-10 majority on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Tillis’s opposition effectively halts Martin’s advancement to a full Senate vote.
• Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has not scheduled a vote on Martin’s nomination, making it increasingly unlikely to meet the May 20 confirmation deadline.
• If Martin’s interim term expires without confirmation, the D.C. district court, potentially led by Judge Jeb Boasberg, could appoint a replacement.
• Martin’s tenure has faced criticism from over 100 former prosecutors and scrutiny over his lack of prosecutorial experience and actions dismissing January 6 cases.