Ed Martin, newly appointed to lead the Department of Justice’s Weaponization Working Group, said Thursday that he intends to examine how bar associations across the country may be targeting conservative attorneys.
This just made my day!
Newly-appointed head of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Weaponization Working Group Ed Martin revealed Thursday that he may spend time looking into bar associations for targeting conservative attorneys.
Martin, who says he is being targeted by the D.C.…
— Rachel Alexander (@Rach_IC) May 16, 2025
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Martin told the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) that his own ongoing ethics investigation by the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel underscores what he views as a broader, systemic issue within the legal profession.
“The bar associations exist with a sort of monopoly, but they also exist at the discretion of the courts,” Martin told DCNF.
“I’ve seen the impact on the legal system, not only advocates like myself who are targeted, but rank and file prosecutors who are abused by the system because the left wants to have sort of lawlessness.”
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Martin disclosed in an internal email earlier this week, first reported by Reuters, that he is currently under investigation by the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
That probe relates to allegations raised by Democratic lawmakers in March, accusing Martin of misconduct during his brief tenure as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
Eagle Unleashed.
— Ed Martin (@EagleEdMartin) May 8, 2025
Lawmakers allege Martin improperly dismissed charges against a defendant connected to the January 6 Capitol breach, whom he had previously represented, and that he used the threat of prosecution to intimidate federal employees and discourage private citizens from speaking out.
Disciplinary counsel Hamilton Fox confirmed to DCNF that all investigations remain confidential unless formal charges are filed.
James Phalen, executive attorney for the D.C. Board on Professional Responsibility, echoed that statement, saying, “Any matters involving allegations of disciplinary misconduct are confidential unless and until Disciplinary Council brings charges.”
Martin, a longtime conservative legal advocate, says the confidentiality protections are not equally enforced.
“It’s one thing for liberals, another thing for conservatives,” Martin said.
“Confidentiality for themselves, and yet, somebody like me—I had a complaint against me—they exposed the confidentiality of the bar complaint and exposed it to random people in my work environment.”
Martin added that he intends to “expose the weaponization of the bar associations against lawyers,” and pointed out that most bar associations—whether national or state-level—are nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations.
“If they’re not living up to what they should be, they’ll have to face scrutiny,” he said.
“And also, part of it is just the name and shame.”
Bar associations have increasingly been at the center of disputes involving political bias, particularly in disciplinary cases against attorneys with connections to President Donald Trump.
In California, conservative attorney John Eastman is facing ongoing disciplinary proceedings related to his legal advice regarding the 2020 election.
In April, the Department of Justice implemented a new internal policy limiting staff participation in American Bar Association (ABA) events, citing concerns over potential conflicts of interest and political advocacy.
“The ABA is free to litigate in support of activist causes, including by inserting itself into pending litigation as an amicus curiae,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote in an internal DOJ memo.
“The Department of Justice must… represent all Americans regardless of ideology or political preferences.”
A federal judge on Wednesday blocked a DOJ attempt to withdraw $3.2 million in grants from the ABA, after the department moved to cut funding over concerns tied to political engagement.
Martin said that the structure of bar associations and their influence over legal licensure may soon come under closer scrutiny.
“Part of it is the monopoly that bar associations maintain over the practice of law may have to change,” Martin said.
“That system, when abused, undermines the integrity of the legal profession.”
🚨🇺🇸MIKE BENZ: THE BAR ASSOCATION TOOK $40 MILLION IN GRANTS AND IS SHAPING FOREIGN COURTS
“Look at these grants. $10 million from USAID, $4 million from USAID, $4 million from USAID, $5 million from USAID.
$22 million from USAID and $17 million from the State Department.… https://t.co/GoSKjpNxbX pic.twitter.com/Q2YgFwcZ99
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 15, 2025
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