U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) has pulled his support of President Donald Trump’s nominee to head up the Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney’s Office, citing the candidate’s past statements about the January 6, 2021, breach at the Capitol in a move that has MAGA fans fuming.
Tillis, who is up for reelection in 2026, told reporters beneath the Capitol on Tuesday that he will vote to oppose Ed Martin, who is currently serving as the acting U.S. attorney and was relying on the North Carolina Republican to push him over unanimous opposition by Democrats as well as a handful of moderate Republicans. The decision is almost certainly a deadly blow to his nomination.
The White House was informed of his decision on Monday, Tillis said.
“I met with Mr. Martin. He seems like a good man. Most of my concerns related to January 6th,” he added, saying Martin “built a compelling case” that some of the J6 prosecutions were poorly made.
“Where we probably have a difference is I think anybody that breaks the perimeter should’ve been imprisoned for some period of time, whether there’s 30 days or three years is debatable, but I have no tolerance for anybody who