Acting U.S. Attorney Launches Investigation into J6 Investigators

The Justice Department’s Acting U.S. Attorney Ed Martin has dismissed 12 officials involved with Special Counsel Jack Smith and initiated an internal review targeting prosecutors who filed obstruction charges against J6 rioters.

According to the Wall Street Journal, prosecutors responsible for these cases—some involving the most violent offenders—were instructed via email on Monday to submit files, notes, emails, and other related materials for review.

The report stated that Martin criticized the decision to pursue obstruction charges, calling it a failure, and referred to his investigation as a “special Investigation. ”

This development follows the Justice Department’s decision to remove over a dozen officials tied to Jack Smith’s investigations into Donald Trump, including cases involving alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling classified documents, as reported by Fox News and CNN.

The review appears focused on the use of a felony obstruction charge against hundreds of rioters. Last summer, most U.S. Supreme Court justices ruled that applying this Enron-era law in these cases was an overreach.

According to sources familiar with the Wall Street Journal’s reporting, some U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutors see Martin’s actions as part of the Trump administration’s plan to investigate those who pursued January 6 cases.

Trump has consistently accused President Biden’s Justice Department of using its power unfairly and has pledged to hold them accountable as part of his campaign.

Ed Martin, a former Missouri Republican Party chairman and board member of a nonprofit supporting January 6 defendants, was recently appointed interim head of the federal office overseeing thousands of Capitol riot cases.

After taking office on Monday, Martin began shutting down these prosecutions and helped secure pardons for over 1,500 defendants, including some convicted of assaulting law enforcement during the Capitol breach.

Martin previously represented a Proud Boys member who admitted to assaulting a police officer with an axe handle and received a nearly five-year prison sentence. In other cases involving violent suspects, his involvement was minimal or non-existent.

Martin’s nonprofit organization, the Patriot Freedom Project, has described the J6 defendants as victims of political targeting and has organized fundraisers to support them.

Martin tweeted from the Capitol during the riot, comparing the atmosphere to a Mardi Gras celebration, even as a Capitol police officer fatally shot Ashli Babbitt. NBC News reported that Martin urged “true Americans” to fight to “stop the steal” in a speech the day before the riot.

Martin was subpoenaed by a House committee investigating the January 6 events in 2021.

Previously, Martin served as the head of St. Louis’s election board and as chief of staff to Missouri’s former Republican Governor, Matt Blunt. He also unsuccessfully bid for Missouri attorney general and a congressional seat representing the St. Louis area.

Martin is expected to leave his interim role soon. Trump’s transition team recently announced that Martin would become the chief of staff at the Office of Management and Budget.

Trump is anticipated to nominate a permanent replacement to lead the office that handles federal and major criminal cases in Washington, D.C.

The January 6 Investigation

The January 6 investigation focused on the attack on the U.S. Capitol and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Lawmakers and investigators reviewed evidence, including videos, witness testimony, and communication records, to uncover what happened and who was responsible.

The committee aimed to determine whether officials or groups played a role in organizing or encouraging the chaos. They also examined security failures and how to prevent future incidents. Findings led to recommendations, legal referrals, and heightened public scrutiny around extremist activities and threats to democracy.

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