Ed Martin, the U.S. Department of Justice’s pardon attorney, is facing ethics charges from the District of Columbia’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel. The charges stem from a letter Martin sent in February 2025, during his tenure as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, to Georgetown University Law Center’s dean, William Treanor. In the letter, Martin criticized the law school’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and warned that his office would cease hiring Georgetown students unless the programs were discontinued. ([cbsnews.com](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doj-ed-martin-ethics-charges-disciplinary-office-georgetown-university/?utm_source=openai))
The disciplinary complaint, filed by Hamilton “Phil” Fox III, alleges that Martin’s actions violated the First and Fifth Amendments by attempting to coerce the university into altering its curriculum. The complaint states that Martin “used coercion to punish or suppress a disfavored viewpoint, the teaching and promotion of DEI.” ([cbsnews.com](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doj-ed-martin-ethics-charges-disciplinary-office-georgetown-university/?utm_source=openai))
In response to Martin’s letter, Dean Treanor emphasized the university’s commitment to its Jesuit and Catholic mission, which includes fostering discourse among people of different faiths, cultures, and beliefs. He asserted that the First Amendment protects the university’s right to determine its curriculum and teaching methods. ([jurist.org](https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/03/georgetown-law-dean-rejects-us-federal-attorney-request-to-eliminate-dei/?utm_source=openai))
Following the initiation of the disciplinary proceedings, Martin attempted to bypass the standard process by directly contacting the chief judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals, requesting a meeting to discuss the matter. The judge advised Martin to communicate through the appropriate legal channels, but Martin continued to seek direct intervention, leading to additional charges of improper ex parte communication and conduct interfering with the administration of justice. ([cbsnews.com](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doj-ed-martin-ethics-charges-disciplinary-office-georgetown-university/?utm_source=openai))
The Justice Department has criticized the disciplinary action, with a spokesperson describing it as a partisan effort to target officials serving under President Trump while ignoring alleged ethical violations by attorneys from previous administrations. ([inquirer.com](https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/ed-martin-ethics-complaint-georgetown-20260310.html?utm_source=openai))
Martin, who previously served as a conservative activist with no prosecutorial experience, was appointed as interim U.S. Attorney in January 2025. His nomination for a permanent position was withdrawn after failing to secure sufficient support in the Republican-controlled Senate. He was subsequently appointed as the Justice Department’s pardon attorney and led the department’s “Weaponization Working Group,” a role from which he was recently removed amid scrutiny over his conduct in mortgage fraud investigations involving political figures. ([inquirer.com](https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/ed-martin-ethics-complaint-georgetown-20260310.html?utm_source=openai))
Martin has 20 days to respond to the ethics charges. If found guilty of misconduct, he could face sanctions ranging from suspension to disbarment. ([inquirer.com](https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/ed-martin-ethics-complaint-georgetown-20260310.html?utm_source=openai))