Context:

President Trump withdrew Ed Martin's nomination to permanently lead the U.S. attorney's office in Washington due to Martin's controversial actions and affiliations. Martin, a staunch defender of the January 6 rioters, had purged prosecutors working on related cases and attempted to delegitimize the inquiry into the Capitol attack. His nomination faced strong opposition after revelations of his associations with far-right figures and his actions against political opponents. Senator Thom Tillis' refusal to support Martin's nomination was decisive, as the Judiciary Committee was already split. Despite withdrawing the nomination, Trump indicated he might find another role for Martin that does not require Senate confirmation.

Dive Deeper:

• Ed Martin, nominated by President Trump to run the U.S. attorney's office, faced backlash for dismantling the prosecution team handling the January 6 Capitol riot cases and for threatening investigations against Democrats and other critics.

• Martin's nomination was ultimately withdrawn after Senator Thom Tillis, a key Republican, refused to support him due to his defense of the January 6 rioters and associations with figures like Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, known for extremist views.

• Martin's tenure was marked by controversial actions, including sending threatening letters to political opponents and mishandling legal procedures, which led to declining morale within the U.S. attorney's office.

• The withdrawal of Martin's nomination signals a potential limit to Senate Republicans' support for Trump's nominees, especially amid declining approval ratings for Trump among key demographics.

• Despite the withdrawal, Trump has expressed continued support for Martin and suggested that he may be appointed to another position within the administration that does not require Senate confirmation.