Ed Martin to remain DOJ pardon attorney after reported demotion

Published February 2, 2026 6:33pm ET



Ed Martin, the Trump administration’s pardon attorney at the Justice Department, will remain in that role for now despite no longer serving as the chief of the department’s Weaponization Working Group.

Since President Donald Trump‘s return to the Oval Office last year, Martin has been leading the administration’s effort to restore balance to the DOJ following years of accusations by Trump allies that the institution had become weaponized under the Biden administration. CNN first reported Monday that Martin was demoted, though a DOJ spokesperson confirmed that Martin has for weeks been focused solely on his pardon attorney role.

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