General Discussion

Ed Martin, the Trump crony who heads the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) vague weaponization task force, posted a picture of himself outside the home of New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), who he is investigating over flimsy mortgage fraud allegations.

Martin posted the photo just days after he sent James’ attorney Abbe Lowell a letter asking that she resign from public office “as an act of good faith” or face further proceedings.

Attorney General Pam Bondi tapped Martin to investigate mortgage fraud allegations against James and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), two of President Donald Trump’s foremost political adversaries.

The DOJ’s investigations into Smith, James and several other of the president’s political opponents have reinforced fears that Trump and his political appointees are weaponizing the federal government as part of a retribution campaign against those who have attempted to hold him accountable.

Martin’s letter, photo shoot and his recent public comments on the James and Schiff investigations, too, appear wildly in violation of internal DOJ protocols and norms, which generally prohibit prosecutors from commenting on ongoing investigations in consideration of the privacy and reputations of uncharged parties like James and Schiff.