Trump turns to Fox's Jeanine Pirro for D.C. attorney after cutting Ed Martin
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Jeanine Pirro speaks on the FOX Nation set on Dec. 10, 2024 in New York City. Photo:John Lamparski/Getty Images
President Trump picked Fox News host Jeanine Pirro for interim U.S. Attorney for D.C., hours after pulling the nomination of Ed Martin, the president confirmed on Truth Social Thursday evening.
- The job is Pirro's to have if she wants it, a senior administration official told Axios. ABC first reported she was being seriously considered.
Why it matters: Pirro is a longtime Trump ally who would replace Martin, a MAGA true believer whose leniency toward Jan. 6 Capitol rioters lost him key Republican support in the Senate.
The latest: In announcing his selection, Trump paid tribute to Pirro's background as assistant district attorney for Westchester County, New York, county judge and district attorney and noted she was the first woman to be elected to those positions.
- "During her time in office, Jeanine was a powerful crusader for victims of crime. Her establishment of the Domestic Violence Bureau in her Prosecutor's Office was the first in the Nation," he said.
- He praised Pirro for excelling "in all ways" and noted her career at Fox News, where she was a vocal supporter of Trump.
- "Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York," he added. "She is in a class by herself."
Zoom in: Trump told reporters Thursday morning in the Oval Office that Martin "wasn't getting the support" and expressed disappointment in this.
- "Hopefully we can bring him into, whether it's DOJ or whatever, in some capacity."
- The final blow came from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) on Tuesday: "I have no tolerance for anybody who entered the building on Jan. 6," he told reporters on Tuesday.
- A fire-breathing conservative podcaster, Martin was already on thin ice with the Senate Judiciary Committee for failing to originally disclose appearances on Russian state media.
- Pirro is a good friend of both Trump's and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The big picture: Martin served as Trump's attack dog during a controversial interim appointment, demoting prosecutors who worked on Jan. 6 cases, pursuing critics of Elon Musk's DOGE, and threatening Wikipedia over what he called biased "propaganda."
- The U.S. Attorney for D.C. is a big office that prosecutes both white collar and national security investigations in D.C. — and street-level violent crime locally.
- Martin vowed to "Make D.C. Safe Again" and introduced himself to residents at community meetings, promising to pursue illegal guns. "A lot of people don't feel safe," he recently told the Washington Informer.
- Last month, his office charged a 49-year-old man for allegedly defacing multiple Tesla cars. "The so-called 'Tesla Takedown' is domestic terrorism, and my team is taking it on front and center," Martin announced.
- One of his latest targets was a medical marijuana shop located near schools.
Between the lines: MAGA influencers like Charlie Kirk had unloaded on Tillis for his opposition, but their efforts to save Martin's nomination fell short.
What's next: Martin will move to the Justice Department and take up the position of "Director of the Weaponization Working Group, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Pardon Attorney," Trump said in a later Truth Social post.
- "In these highly important roles, Ed will make sure we finally investigate the Weaponization of our Government under the Biden Regime, and provide much needed Justice for its victims," Trump added.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with more comment from President Trump and additional context.
