Kyle Cheney is a senior legal affairs reporter for POLITICO "with a focus on democracy" as well as "the balance of power in government." It looks like he believes the Department of Justice is supposed to operate independently of and balance the power of the executive branch. He reports that President Donald Trump has nominated a January 6 defense lawyer and advocate — "who recently amplified [the] notion that DOJ doesn't not require independence from the president" — to a full term as U.S. Attorney in D.C.

As we reported earlier Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis posted that "the Justice Department is not 'independent' of the elected chief executive but is <a href="https://twitchy.com/justmindy/2025/02/17/desantis-educates-on-judicial-branch-and-executive-branch-n2408472" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">constitutionally accountable to him</a>." Never mind that former Attorney General Eric Holder called himself President Barack Obama's "wingman" — that was different.

Maybe Trump didn't mention Ed Martin's January 6 advocacy because, like the majority of us, is well over January 6 and doesn't see everything through that lens.

 {ai:summary}<p>President Trump has nominated Ed Martin, a January 6 defense lawyer, for a full term as U.S. Attorney in D.C. Martin has previously suggested that the Department of Justice does not need to operate independently from the President, a stance that has sparked debate among legal experts and commentators.</p><p>Critics argue that the DOJ is inherently part of the executive branch and should maintain independence, while supporters of Martin's view assert that the DOJ is accountable to the elected chief executive. This ongoing discourse highlights differing interpretations of the DOJ's role within the government structure. #politics</p>

Politico Reporter: Trump Has Nominated a January 6 Defense Lawyer to Be US Attorney in DC

Loading...