Exclusive: Justice Dept. Removes Trump Ally Ed Martin from 'Weaponization' Post Amid Internal Tensions

WASHINGTON — Ed Martin, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, has been removed from his position as head of the Justice Department's politically charged 'Weaponization Working Group,' multiple sources with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to CBS News. The move underscores deepening internal tensions within the department under Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Martin was appointed to lead the working group—tasked with reviewing high-profile cases from the Biden administration—after his nomination to be the U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., collapsed in the Senate. His confirmation failed largely due to his past advocacy for individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot and a history of controversial public statements.

While stripped of the 'weaponization czar' title, Martin retains his role as a pardon attorney, advising Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on clemency matters. A Justice Department spokesperson confirmed he remains on staff in that capacity.

Behind his departure, sources describe a tenure marked by friction. Several officials within the Deputy Attorney General's office grew frustrated with Martin's lack of productivity on the working group and a series of incendiary social media posts. "It became a constant distraction," one source familiar with the internal dynamics said. "The group was supposed to produce reports, but under his watch, very little moved forward."

Martin's activities have also drawn legal scrutiny. Prosecutors are examining his and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte's roles in a mortgage fraud investigation targeting prominent Democrats, including Senator Adam Schiff of California. A grand jury subpoena, reviewed by CBS News, sought communications between a key witness and Martin, Pulte, and their associates. Bondi has publicly denied Pulte is under investigation, calling such reports "fake news."

Martin's brief and turbulent career at Justice has been a lightning rod for controversy. Earlier, as interim U.S. Attorney, career lawyers blocked his attempt to open a probe into Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. He also faced ethics complaints and criticism for omitting past paid appearances on Russian state media from disclosure forms.

The 'Weaponization Working Group' itself, a flagship initiative of the current administration to review prior prosecutions, has struggled to show results since its formation, insiders note.

Reaction & Analysis:

"This was inevitable," said Dr. Elena Vance, a political historian at Georgetown University. "Martin's appointment was always more about political symbolism than effective governance. His removal suggests even this administration has limits on how much internal disruption it will tolerate."

Mark Reynolds, a former federal prosecutor, offered a more measured take: "The procedural questions around the Schiff investigation are serious and warrant a clear-eyed review. Removing Martin from one role while he stays in another doesn't resolve those underlying questions for the department."

The sharpest criticism came from Sarah Chen, a legal analyst and outspoken critic of the administration. "This is a classic Friday news dump to hide a fiasco," she said. "They put a partisan activist in charge of reviewing 'weaponization,' and he allegedly ends up weaponizing investigations himself. It's hypocrisy at its most blatant, and Bondi's silence on the reasons speaks volumes."

"The real story is the paralysis of the working group itself," noted Congressional staffer David Miller (R-Ohio), who spoke on background. "It was meant to deliver accountability but got bogged down in personality conflicts and controversy from day one."