By Charles Switzer
2:30am PDT, Apr 18, 2025
Trump's Nominee Ed Martin Fails to Disclose Russian TV Appearances
President
Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C.,
Ed Martin, came under scrutiny for not disclosing his extensive appearances on Russian state television when filling out his Senate confirmation questionnaire.
A report by
The Washington Post revealed that Martin appeared on Russian state TV outlets like RT and Sputnik more than 150 times between August 2016 and April 2024.
Despite the significance of these appearances, Martin failed to list them when asked by the Senate Judiciary Committee to disclose all media interviews.
Here's everything to know about Trump's controversial nominee.
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Unreported Appearances on Russian State Networks
The Washington Post's investigation, conducted by Spencer S. Hsu and Aaron Schaffer, showed that Ed Martin appeared on RT and Sputnik more frequently than on major U.S. cable networks.
These networks have long been accused of serving as vehicles for Russian government propaganda.
The investigation noted that Martin participated in these broadcasts regularly as a guest commentator, yet he did not include this information in his official Senate questionnaire ahead of his confirmation hearing.
State Department Warning About Russian Media Outlets
The revelations about Ed Martin's connections to Russian media come amidst growing concern about the role of RT and Sputnik in global disinformation campaigns.
In September 2024, the U.S. State Department issued a bulletin warning about RT's covert activities, describing the network as more than just a media outlet.
The department stated, "RT moved beyond being simply a media outlet and has been an entity with cyber capabilities. It is also engaged in information operations, covert influence, and military procurement."
This further highlights the controversial nature of Martin's repeated appearances on these platforms.
Martin's Controversial Background and 'Stop the Steal' Involvement
Ed Martin has been a controversial figure within U.S. politics, particularly due to his involvement in the "Stop the Steal" movement, which falsely claimed the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump.
This movement gained significant attention and was associated with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Martin's political involvement and his public statements have led to increasing criticism, including calls for investigations into his conduct.
A letter sent to the D.C. Court of Appeals earlier this week, signed by a group of lawyers, former judges, and prosecutors called for an investigation into Martin's actions. The letter argued that Martin's recent statements and his political affiliations suggest his investigations may be politically motivated, with the letter stating, "Mr. Martin's client is not President Trump; it is the United States."
Public Reaction to Martin's Nomination and Media Appearances
The reaction from social media users has been critical of Ed Martin's failure to disclose his Russian media appearances.
One user on X commented, "How does someone with this much baggage get nominated for such a key position? The lack of transparency is appalling."
Another user expressed concerns about Martin's potential conflicts of interest, stating, "If you're appearing on Russian state TV and hiding it from the Senate, how can we trust you to represent the interests of the U.S.?"
