{"id":2434285,"date":"2025-05-13T18:05:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T22:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ed-martin-says-doj-will-review-bidens-last-minute-pardons-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-05-13T18:08:06","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T22:08:06","slug":"ed-martin-says-doj-will-review-bidens-last-minute-pardons-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ed-martin-says-doj-will-review-bidens-last-minute-pardons-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Ed Martin says DOJ will review Biden\u2019s last-minute pardons &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fed-martin-says-doj-will-review-bidens-last-minute-pardons-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2434285&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Ed Martin, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/china-demands-drastic-and-substantive-cuts-to-us-nuclear-arsenal-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"China demands \u2018drastic and substantive cuts\u2019 to US nuclear arsenal - Washington Examiner\">outgoing acting<\/a> U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is reviewing several last-minute pardons issued by former President Joe Biden. Martin emphasized the need for scrutiny to ensure that clemency is used appropriately and expressed concerns about certain pardons, notably those <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/homeland-security-portrays-white-conservatives-as-radical-threats-in-training-documents\/\" title=\"Homeland Security sees white conservatives as radical threats in training materials.\">involving political figures<\/a>. Even though he did not specify which pardons would be investigated, there are implications that the Trump administration may challenge the legality of Biden&#8217;s pardons, especially those granted preemptively to individuals not yet charged with crimes.<\/p>\n<p>Martin, whose nomination was stalled after losing support from key Republican senators, has been reassigned to lead the Office of the Pardon Attorney and a new DOJ task force focused on the &#8220;weaponization&#8221; of government agencies. His brief term in the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s office included scrutiny of felony charges related to the January 6 Capitol riot. Martin also mentioned renewed efforts by the FBI to investigate unresolved bomb threats at the Capitol from January 2021.<\/p>\n<p>Following martin&#8217;s exit, Trump intends to appoint Jeanine Pirro, a longtime ally and Fox News host, as the interim U.S. Attorney for D.C. Martin&#8217;s nomination faced difficulties, especially after questions arose regarding his handling of cases related to the January 6 incident.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Ed Martin says DOJ will review Biden&rsquo;s last-minute pardons<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2120619\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Outgoing acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ed-martin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Ed Martin<\/a> said Tuesday the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Department of Justice<\/a> is reviewing several of former President Joe Biden&rsquo;s final-hour pardons, vowing that his new office will scrutinize whether clemency was used &ldquo;correctly&rdquo; or politically.<\/p>\n<p>Martin, whose nomination to the Washington, D.C., prosecutor post collapsed last week after key Senate Republicans pulled support, confirmed that President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Donald Trump<\/a> has reassigned him to two new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wednesday-december-1st-2021\/\" title=\"Wednesday | December 1st, 2021\">high-profile roles<\/a>: Director of the Office of the Pardon Attorney and head of the DOJ&rsquo;s recently established <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3406728\/ex-dc-us-attorney-ed-martin-spit-on-after-trump-pulls-nomination\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Weaponization Working Group<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3409884\/trump-kilmar-abrego-garcia-lawyers-cite-interview-evidence-return-us\/\">Trump interview cited as evidence by Abrego Garcia lawyers seeking migrant&#8217;s return to US<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3409611\/alina-habba-newark-mayor-ras-baraka-arrest\/\">Alina Habba warned not to discuss Newark mayor Ras Baraka after arrest<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3409390\/doj-renews-supreme-court-deportation-bid\/\">DOJ renews Supreme Court deportation bid after detainees &#8216;threatened&#8217; ICE<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ed Martin speaks at an event hosted by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) at the Capitol in Washington, with the Washington Examiner&rsquo;s Brady Knox in back, June 13, 2023. (AP Photo\/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;I do think that the Biden pardons need some scrutiny,&rdquo; Martin said at a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-_6zxO-6aeM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">press conference<\/a> announcing the transition. &ldquo;We want pardons to matter &hellip; to be accepted and to be something that&rsquo;s used correctly. So I do think we&rsquo;re going to take a hard look.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Among the Biden pardons that have drawn sharp criticism from Republicans were the preemptive grants of clemency to former White House COVID-19 adviser Dr. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3406255\/trump-jeanine-pirro-dc-us-attorney-fox-news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Anthony Fauci<\/a>, former Wyoming GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/live-blog-posts\/trump-slams-bidens-last-minute-pardons-of-j6-committee-why-are-we-helping-liz-cheney\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">several members<\/a> of the House Jan. 6 committee. GOP lawmakers and Trump allies have railed against the moves as excessive and self-serving, with some accusing Biden of using the pardon power to insulate political allies from future investigations with a form of immunity.<\/p>\n<p>Martin did not specify which pardons were under review, but his remarks suggest the Trump administration could challenge or investigate the legality of some of Biden&rsquo;s final clemency decisions before leaving office in January. While presidential pardons are historically difficult, if not impossible, to reverse, Biden&rsquo;s use of preemptive pardons for people not yet charged with crimes has raised new constitutional questions.<\/p>\n<p>Martin&rsquo;s tenure in the Washington, D.C., prosecutor&rsquo;s office was brief and contentious. A former &ldquo;Stop the Steal&rdquo; organizer, Martin took office on Trump&rsquo;s first day in January and quickly moved to reshape the department&rsquo;s posture toward Jan. 6 defendants, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >overseeing internal shake-ups<\/a> and launching a review of felony obstruction charges brought against Capitol riot participants. The Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration&rsquo;s aggressive use of the obstruction charges.<\/p>\n<p>At the same press conference, Martin also revealed that the FBI has recently reassigned agents to reexamine the unsolved Jan. 5, 2021, Capitol Hill <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3274581\/house-inquiry-into-jan-6-pipe-bombs-finds-numerous-security-failures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">pipe bomb case<\/a>, an investigation that has remained largely stagnant for years. &ldquo;There are fresh eyes on it,&rdquo; he said, adding that he remains &ldquo;optimistic&rdquo; that the case can be solved.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3405474\/trump-to-pull-nominee-ed-martin-dc-us-attorney\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">TRUMP TO PULL NOMINEE ED MARTIN FOR US ATTORNEY FOR DC<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Martin&rsquo;s exit paves the way for longtime Trump ally and Fox News host&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3406255\/trump-jeanine-pirro-dc-us-attorney-fox-news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jeanine Pirro<\/a>&nbsp;to become interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Pirro, a former New York prosecutor and judge, is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday. Trump has not yet indicated whether he intends to nominate her for a permanent role.<\/p>\n<p>Martin&rsquo;s nomination had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3402295\/thom-tillis-ed-martin-not-supporting-dc-top-prosecutor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">faltered<\/a> after Sen. <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thom-tillis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Thom Tillis<\/a> (R-NC) publicly withdrew support, citing concerns over Martin&rsquo;s embrace of Capitol riot defendants. Despite the setback, Trump has continued to elevate Martin to roles that signal an aggressive effort to overhaul the DOJ from within.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2120619\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2120619\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ed Martin states DOJ will examine Biden&#8217;s last-minute pardons<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2434286,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ed-Martin.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3620,7076,50500],"class_list":["post-2434285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-biden","tag-doj","tag-ed-martin"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ed-Martin.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2434285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2434285"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2434285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2434289,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2434285\/revisions\/2434289"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2434286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2434285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2434285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2434285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}