Republican Senator Backstabs Trump & MAGA, Says He Will Not Support Critical Nominee

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) said he told the White House he would not support Ed Martin’s nomination to serve as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

Tillis is a key vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance Martin’s nomination to a full Senate vote.

“Most of my concerns related to January 6th,” Tillis said.

“If Mr. Martin were being put forth as a U.S. attorney for any district except the district where Jan. 6 happened, the protest happened, I’d probably support him. But not in this district,” Tillis continued.

“At this point, I’ve indicated to the White House I wouldn’t support his nomination,” he added.

WATCH:

Tillis after meeting with Ed Martin last night:

“At this point I’ve indicated to the White House I wouldn’t support his nomination.” pic.twitter.com/T1OSqSabOn

— Alan He (@alanhe) May 6, 2025

The Hill reports:

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Tuesday that Martin’s nomination could be in serious trouble.

“I think that would suggest that he’s probably not going to get out of committee,” Thune told reporters when asked about Tillis’s opposition to the nominee.

Tillis met with Martin, who is serving as acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, on Monday afternoon.

While serving as interim U.S. attorney, Martin has dropped cases against Jan. 6 protesters and fired career prosecutors in the office.

Martin has come under criticism for helping to organize the “Stop the Steal” movement after the 2020 presidential election and serving as defense counsel in Jan. 6-related cases.

#BREAKING: Sen. Thom Tillis has informed the White House he will NOT vote to confirm Ed Martin as U.S. Attorney for DC

What the hell are you doing, @SenThomTillis??!

Ed Martin has been VITAL in fulfilling Trump’s goal to clean up DC.

VOTE TO CONFIRM ED MARTIN! pic.twitter.com/aVWCVkbwmB

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 6, 2025

“Ed Martin is going through the approval process to be U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia. According to many but, in particular, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., his approval is IMPERATIVE in terms of doing all that has to be done to SAVE LIVES and to, MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN. This is a passion for Ed, more so than for almost anyone that I have seen,” President Trump said Monday.

“One of the reasons that I was so successful in winning the 2024 Presidential Election is my commitment to Health, and helping to Make America Healthy. The Cost of the Chronic Disease Epidemic has gotten out of control over the past four years of the Biden Presidency. We are going to take our Country BACK, and FAST,” he continued.

“Ed Martin will be a big player in doing so and, I hope, that the Republican Senators will make a commitment to his approval, which is now before them. Ed is coming up on the deadline for Voting and, if approved, HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. When some day in the future you look back at your Vote for Ed Martin, you will be very proud of what you have done for America and America’s Health. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” he added.

Per CNN:

A committee vote on Martin’s nomination has not yet been scheduled. Still, the White House remains confident that Martin will get confirmed, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee in charge of Martin’s nomination, said last week that Republicans needed more time to vet Martin and meet with him – a nod to the growing angst behind the scenes.

North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, told CNN last week he has “serious questions” about Martin, given his previous comments denigrating police officers who defended the US Capitol during the January 6, 2021, attack.

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“I don’t talk about that stuff,” Tillis said when asked if the president had reached out to him.

GOP Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, who also serve on the panel, have also privately expressed concerns about supporting Martin, a source familiar with the process told CNN. Cornyn told CNN on Monday that Trump had not reached out to him, and he declined to say how he would vote on the nomination.

Grassley told CNN last week that his panel still had not received the necessary paperwork from the FBI to move forward with Martin’s nomination. However, a committee aide told CNN Monday that all outstanding materials on Martin have now been received, including the FBI materials Grassley was waiting on.

Trump and his allies have a short window to get Martin over the finish line. If Republicans don’t confirm him by May 20, there would be a new process to play out in picking a new nominee.

One option could be US District Judge James Boasberg appointing someone to become DC’s top prosecutor. Boasberg, a Barack Obama appointee, has presided over a number of high-profile cases challenging Trump policies, drawing the ire of the president and his allies.