He is against the nomination of Ed Martin as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia by President Donald Trump. Tillis’ opposition largely stemmed from Martin’s record of defending criminal defendants from the riot on January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol. In fact, this grassroots support was instrumental in influencing Tillis’s position. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Tillis’s disapproval could significantly hinder Martin’s chances of advancing through the nomination process.
Tillis announced his decision on March 13, 2025, soon after walking off the Senate floor. He had just concluded with Martin the night before, characterizing that meeting as a productive one. He said the one thing he couldn’t get behind Martin was his support for the Capitol riot defendants.
The senator stated, “Mr. Martin did a good job of explaining the one area that I think he’s probably right, that there were some people that were over prosecuted, but there were some [200 to 300 of them] that should have never gotten a pardon.” Tillis thinks some of those defendants were overcharged. He believes that the majority of those who rioted do deserve punishment.
On January 6, as the insurrection unfolded, Trump urged his supporters to march on the Capitol. They wanted to challenge the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral college victory as president. In the wake of the insurrection, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C. has charged hundreds of individuals associated with the insurrection. In a stunning example of gall, Trump granted these exact blanket pardons his first day back in office this past January. This decision created national uproar.
Tillis went on to reiterate his zero-tolerance policy towards anyone who stormed the Capitol building on January 6, 2021. “Whether it’s 30 days or three years is debatable, but I have no tolerance for anybody who entered the building on January the Sixth,” he said, highlighting his firm stance on the matter.
He elaborated on his unwillingness to support Martin, stating, “If Mr. Martin were being put forth as a U.S. Attorney for any district except the district where January 6 happened, I’d probably support him, but not in this district.” This short comment illustrates the deep conviction that Tillis has. First, he claims that the exceptional nature of the Capitol riot demands an inclusive standard for nominations connected to D.C.
The senator has officially notified the White House of his intent to resign. Approving Martin’s nomination would be very controversial, he suggested, in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is likely true. Most experts agree Tillis’s opposition could pretty much kill Martin’s chances of even getting his nomination reported out of committee.
As discussions continue regarding the implications of January 6 on legal proceedings and nominations, Tillis remains firm in his convictions. His position is a signal of lawmakers’ increasing frustration with lack of accountability. All of this comes on the heels of perhaps the most dangerous threats to American democracy in recent history.
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