Trump-Appointed Prosecutor Drops Charges Against Capitol Rioter He Previously Represented

Ed Martin, the interim U.S. Attorney for D.C., faces ethical scrutiny for dismissing charges against a January 6 defendant who was his former client.

Ed Martin, Trump’s interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, signed a motion to drop charges against Joseph Padilla, a Capitol rioter he previously represented as a defense attorney.
Legal experts have criticized the move as a serious conflict of interest, violating both Justice Department rules and Missouri state bar ethics regulations, which require recusal in cases involving former clients.
Martin claims he ceased involvement in the case over a year ago and was unaware his name appeared on the motion, but court records show he was still listed as Padilla’s attorney.
Padilla, sentenced to 6.5 years for assaulting officers during the Capitol riot, was granted clemency by Trump, but ethics experts assert Martin should not have facilitated the dismissal for his former client.
Martin, who has faced prior criticism for his pro-Trump actions, including dismissing other January 6 cases and firing career prosecutors, has not sought ethics advice before making key decisions in these cases.