Attorney Ed Martin Denies Tension with Deputy AG Todd Blanche

On Monday, Pardon Attorney Ed Martin refuted claims that there’s any discord between him and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Martin recently stepped down as the leader of the DOJ’s Weaponization Task Force, which led Blanche to imply he may have been forced out.

“All this talk about Todd Blanche and me is simply fake news,” Martin stated. He expressed pride in his work alongside Blanche and others during a significant year for Trump clemency, emphasizing the positive changes brought about by Trump’s pardons in 2025. He suggested a focus on the president’s achievements moving forward.

Martin even shared a cheerful photo of himself with Blanche in front of the DOJ seal, though the context of the picture, taken on Friday, remained unclear.

In response, Blanche echoed Martin’s sentiments, confirming their good relationship: “It’s true. I’ll see you at work, Ed. Let’s go!”

The White House had directed inquiries to comments made by Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt in November, where she emphasized the seriousness with which the White House treats pardons, stating that a thorough vetting process is in place for clemency applications. Ultimately, the president is the final decision-maker in these matters.

Martin did not reply to inquiries from the Daily Caller News Foundation. Appointed by President Trump in May 2025, Martin took on the roles of both pardon attorney and leader of the Weaponization Task Force after facing challenges in securing Senate support for a U.S. attorney position in D.C.

In addition, Martin was designated as a special prosecutor to probe allegations of mortgage fraud related to Democratic figures Letitia James and Adam Schiff. Although James’ case was dismissed due to procedural issues, the Justice Department opted to appeal the ruling.

Disparaging remarks about Martin have arisen, particularly after he posted a picture of himself outside a property linked to the investigation. Tensions have surfaced regarding the task force’s agenda, which includes investigating the actions of former special counsel Jack Smith in the Trump case and examining potential collaborations between federal and local prosecutors regarding Trump. The group’s focus also extends to the Biden Justice Department’s guidelines on parental protests at school board meetings and the prosecution of pro-life activists under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.