D.C.'s Top Prosecutor To Probe Media Leaks on Jan 6 Cases

Washington, D.C.'s top federal prosecutor, Interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin, has revealed plans to investigate potential leaks of information tied to the prosecutions of President Donald Trump’s supporters involved in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. 

In an email obtained by Reuters, Martin argued that these alleged leaks to the press about evidence in the cases harmed defendants, witnesses, and law enforcement officers (LEOs). 

“All of this was used by the media and partisans as misinformation,” he wrote, calling it “bad all around.” His office offered no comment when pressed, and the email lacked specific examples or evidence of the leaks in question.

Ed Martin

Martin, a staunch Trump ally who echoed the former president’s baseless 2020 election fraud claims, was present on Capitol grounds during the January 6 unrest. Now heading the office that prosecuted roughly 1,600 rioters for attempting to derail Congress’s certification of Joe Biden’s victory, Martin has overseen a dramatic shift since Trump pardoned all those defendants on his first day back in office in 2025. Traditionally, U.S. attorneys maintain some independence, but Martin has aligned his office closely with the White House, a departure from norms.

Martin has publicly discussed ongoing criminal probes and vowed to investigate perceived “targeting” of individuals aiding Elon Musk’s efforts to reshape the federal government. He has also skirted Justice Department protocol by directly contacting lawmakers like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, aiming to probe political rhetoric he deems threatening. 

Trump has tapped Martin as his permanent U.S. Attorney pick, with the Senate facing a May 20, 2025, deadline to confirm him before his interim term lapses.