A woman was filmed spitting on Donald Trump’s former pick for Prosecutor for the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., Ed Martin, while he was participating in a TV interview.
Newsweek contacted Martin via X and the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department by email to comment on this story.
The Context
On Thursday, Trump rescinded Martin’s nomination as Washington’s top prosecutor after Republican North Carolina senator Thom Tillis said he would not support him, meaning it became clear Martin would not get enough Senate votes to advance.
Tillis was concerned that Martin previously provided legal representation to defendants charged with crimes related to the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Martin has also courted criticism more generally and in April apologized for praising a Jan. 6 rioter who posted photos of himself dressed as Adolf Hitler.
He was also one of the key organizers of the “Stop the Steal” movement that sought to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
What To Know
In the video, Martin was seen speaking to a reporter on Newsmax’s The Chris Salcedo Show when an unknown woman walking a dog approached, shouting at him out of view of the camera.
“Who the f*** are you? You are Ed Martin,” she said.
She then came closer, in view of the camera, and pointed at him before spitting in his direction. The woman then walked away before turning back once more and saying “you are a disgusting man.”
What People Are Saying
Rob Schmitt, a Newsmax host, said on X: “This afternoon acting DC US Atty Ed Martin was spit on by a psychotic lib during our interview. Hope she’s ready for a nice stretch in jail.”
Conservative journalist Nick Sortor called her an “unhinged leftist.”
Trump to reporters in the Oval Office Thursday speaking about the rescindment of Martin’s nomination: “To me it was disappointing. I’ll be honest, I have to be straight. I was disappointed, a lot of people were disappointed, but that’s the way it works sometimes.”
“He wasn’t rejected, but we felt it would be very—it would be hard. And we have somebody else that we’ll be announcing over the next two days, who’s going to be great.”
What Happens Next
Whether the woman is named, and whether she faces police action or not, remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Martin’s term as interim U.S. attorney, is set to expire on May 20.
Trump said he would name Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News host and former state-level prosecutor to be the interim US attorney.
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