DOJ’s Ed Martin Faces Lawyer Disciplinary Proceedings in DC

Ed Martin, a senior Justice Department official and staunch ally of President Donald Trump, is facing allegations of misconduct from attorney ethics regulators in Washington.

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel — the enforcement arm for the local DC Bar — alleges that Martin violated ethics rules in early 2025 by making threats against Georgetown University Law Center for its practices related to so-called diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI. He was serving as the interim US attorney in the District of Columbia at the time and has been a member of the DC Bar since 2003, according to the office.

Ed Martin

Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg

According to a petition from the office, Martin violated the local rules for lawyers by demanding that Georgetown Law change what it teaches students. The ethics office said he threatened to refuse to hire those affiliated with the school and suggested that its nonprofit status — and federal funding — could be in jeopardy.

The office also alleges that Martin attempted to interfere with its investigation of his conduct related to Georgetown Law. The allegations against Martin are contained in a petition received by the DC Court of Appeals Board on Professional Responsibility on March 6.

“Acting in his official capacity and speaking on behalf of the government, he used coercion to punish or suppress a disfavored viewpoint, the teaching and promotion of ‘DEI,’” the office alleged.

Martin didn’t respond to requests for comment. The Justice Department said in a statement that “the DC Bar’s attempt to target and punish those serving President Trump while refusing to investigate or act against actual ethical violations that were committed by Biden and Obama administration attorneys is a clear indication of this partisan organization’s agenda.”

Martin was appointed by Trump to serve as interim US attorney for the District of Columbia in January 2025. He served until his nomination for the position was withdrawn in May 2025.

Martin currently serves as the US Pardon Attorney within the Justice Department. Previously, he also led the department’s so-called weaponization group, which was formed in response to an executive order by Trump titled “Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government.”

In a typical case, a committee of lawyers will review the allegations and evidence presented by the disciplinary counsel’s office and make recommendations to the Board on Professional Responsibility, which is also made up of local attorneys. Martin will also have an opportunity to respond as part of the proceedings.

The board will then send its recommendations to the city’s highest local court, which makes the final call on whether to penalize a lawyer. Consequences can range from a public censure to disbarment, but it’s unknown what penalty the disciplinary counsel’s office would seek in this case.

--With assistance from Erik Larson.

To contact the reporters on this story:
Chris Strohm in Washington at cstrohm1@bloomberg.net;
Zoe Tillman in Washington at ztillman2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story:
Sara Forden at sforden@bloomberg.net

Ben Bain

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