Washington, D.C. — On Thursday, Demand Progress Education Fund filed an ethics complaint with the D.C. Bar and Missouri Bar against Ed Martin, who was recently removed as head of the U.S. Justice Department’s “Weaponization” working group. CNN reported that Martin told DOJ investigators that he did not mishandle information related to an investigation of President Trump’s political enemies, but email evidence later proved that he did. The complaint notes that Martin’s behavior as alleged by CNN likely violated numerous rules of professional conduct for attorneys and asks for an investigation. Demand Progress Education Fund is part of a coalition that has filed a previous ethics complaint against Martin and warned about his behavior.
“Ed Martin’s long history of playing fast and loose with the rule of law has serious implications, not only for his professional conduct, but also for the integrity of our legal system,” said Demand Progress Education Fund Policy Director Emily Peterson-Cassin. “The public must know more about whether Martin lied to DOJ investigators about his role in the Trump Administration’s misuse of sensitive information.”
“The troubling new reporting, which alleges that Martin has now been politically weaponizing his role as the Administration’s so-called ‘weaponization czar’ and engaging in dishonesty about it, strongly suggests that he is, without any remorse or hesitation, continuing to engage in professional misconduct that reflects adversely on his character and fitness to be a licensed attorney,” stated the complaint.