…On Dec 9, 2024, one day before #Trump announced that #EdMartin would join his new admin, Martin wrote about #Putin on the website of his #PhyllisSchlafly Eagles group. He decried the dismantling of Western civilization by “our ruling elites” & their “weak, incompetent” servants. These “mediocre” American men “despise figures like Vladimir Putin,” Martin said, “not because he’s an enemy of the West, but because he reminds them of their inadequacies.”

That fall & winter, #EdMartin also spoke about #Ukraine. In a flurry of 14 spots over a 5-wk span in 2022 before #Russia’s invasion, Martin criticized what he cast as the drumbeat for war by interventionist Americans & repeated that #NATO should rule out Ukrainian membership, a key Russia demand.
In Oct 2021, Martin on his podcast & on Twitter promoted #RT; Margarita Simonyan, editor in chief of RT & #Sputnik; & an RT host over US authorities & social & traditional media.
#law #NationalSecurity

…#EdMartin’s …appearances on #RT surged again in 2021, when he did roughly 60 spots, compared w/ 50 over the prior 4½ years. He was often asked about #Jan6, 2021, Capitol riot prosecutions, 3 of whose defendants HE REPRESENTED, & mounting federal & state investigations of #Trump, which he strongly & repeatedly criticized.

…last Sept #US authorities charged 2 #RT employees w/ allegedly funneling $10M to bankroll *unknowing* pro-#Trump #influencers to publish thousands of videos that pushed #Kremlin #propaganda. Dual Russian-American citizens Dimitri Simes & his wife, Anastasia, were charged w/ violating economic sanctions, in part for his paid work for another #Russia state television network.…

…AG #PamBondi shut down the #FBI task force investigating #ForeignInfluence….

#Russia #StateMedia at the time promoted #EdMartin’s critiques in headlines such as one on #Sputnik International’s website in April 2023, “‘Trumped-Up’ Charges Against Former US President ‘Embarrassing’ to US,” & another in December 2023, “GOP Activist: ‘Stupid’ US Leaders Will ‘Throw Money’ at #Ukraine Unless Stopped by House.”

#EdMartin was invited by several [#Russia] networks to discuss the 2016 presidential election after writing a book making the conservative case for #Trump w/ #antifeminist icon #PhyllisSchlafly.

Over time, Martin appeared as a solo guest discussing the #Ukraine crisis & was described as a “co-host” on one show episode in December 2023.

#EdMartin has been a prolific user of social & other media to defend #Trump & his policies. His presence on #Russia #StateMedia puts a twist on Trump’s frequent tapping of TV personalities to stock his 2nd admin.

Martin appeared as a panelist or commentator on more than a dozen #RT or #Sputnik programs beginning in Aug 2016, often introduced as a #Republican strategist….

“We want to use these terms carefully, but this is a kind of #ForeignInfluence,” FilterLabsAI founder & CEO Jonathan Teubner said, adding that #RT is cultivating relationships w/American #conservative #influencers & micro-influencers as #Trump emerges as a leading figure in a #global wave of hard-line conservative #populism, inspiring #nationalist parties in #Europe & elsewhere.

“We needed to be allies w/ nuclear powers like #Russia,” #EdMartin told #Sputnik in March 2022, suggesting a missed opportunity under #Trump’s first term. “What Trump knew was you want to be allies with the toughest dudes on the street. And he was ready to be allies with #NorthKorea & with #Putin & everybody.”

…#Trump risks abandoning leadership of a liberal democratic order that spreads American values & global prosperity, siding instead w/ #autocratic #strongman govts.

#EdMartin advocated greater #US - #Russia cooperation before Trump’s 1st meeting as pres w/ #Putin, in Germany in July 2017, saying on #RT that he expected Trump to come away w/ “some affinity w/Putin.” He struck the same note just after the #Ukraine invasion, as the US imposed sanctions on Putin personally.

…Now, #Trump’s 2nd admin is pushing US #ForeignPolicy ofcls to find ways to partner w/ #Putin’s #Russia, signaling that he is willing to part ways w/ #allies, including by staking claims to #Greenland & #Canada, pressing #Ukraine to seek peace, & shifting US resources from #Europe to focus on #China.

#EdMartin’s views in some ways track those of VP #JDVance & #DNI #TulsiGabbard, who have criticized the exercise of US military power overseas.

…Since 2017 & 2018, the #DOJ [under #Trump 1.0] has required #RT & #Sputnik to register as #ForeignAgents, reflecting #Russian government control over their operations. 5 months after #EdMartin’s final appearance last April, the #UnitedStates, #Canada & #Britain announced new sanctions on RT & several employees meant to cripple funding for… #disinformation operations around the world.

…#EdMartin has omitted far more from his nomination materials than other recent #USAttorney nominees, 2 people familiar w/the process said, one of them estimating [his] omissions [to be] about 350 events, interviews & media appearances.

By comparison, only about 3 of roughly 80 such nominees from 2021 through 2024 left out published writings & public statements in supplemental committee disclosures, & none missed more than 4 items….

…Asked about #EdMartin’s pro-#Russia stances & media role, a #WhiteHouse official said: “President #Trump made a brilliant choice in selecting Ed Martin to serve a full, permanent term as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. With a distinguished record of service, Ed is the perfect leader to restore #law & order & make our Nation’s Capital safe & beautiful once again.”

People can disagree over US #ForeignPolicy, said Joseph Cirincione, a nuclear policy & #NationalSecurity expert who has advised US presidents & supports US military #aid to #Ukraine, “but repeatedly helping #Russia advance its #propaganda aims by echoing its views on its state-directed media, that should be #disqualifying.”

Fmr US #NationalSecurity ofcls & analysts said #EdMartin’s #RT & #Sputnik appearances, & his failure to disclose them, raise questions about his judgment & candor. The #DC #USAttorney’s office is the largest in the country & has wide jurisdiction to prosecute important national security offenses. Its leader should be alert to the threats & risks posed by #Russia & other #influence operations from overseas, such as the ones the office has prosecuted in recent years….

#EdMartin’s brief tenure as top federal prosecutor in Washington has stoked controversy. Democrats accuse Martin — a #Trump “Stop the Steal” organizer who has called the 2020 election & #Russia’s 2016 #ElectionInterference investigation “hoaxes” — of violating the #law & legal #ethics in threatening to investigate or prosecute lawmakers, protesters, journalists & others whom he perceives as undermining Trump’s agenda.

#EdMartin’s frequent appearances, reviewed by WaPo, drew rebukes from some #NationalSecurity analysts, who accused him of amplifying anti-American #propaganda on Russian outlets that the #State Dept last year said had moved beyond #disinformation to engage in covert #influence activities aimed at undermining democracies worldwide for President Vladimir #Putin’s regime.