DOJ Review Finds Ed Martin Shared Secret Grand Jury Materials; Removed From Weaponization Unit

A Justice Department review overseen by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche concluded that Ed Martin improperly handled and circulated secret grand jury materials tied to mortgage-fraud inquiries into Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James, multiple people familiar with the review told CNN.

What the Review Found

According to sources briefed on the matter, the department determined Martin shared grand jury material in the Schiff matter. Martin initially denied sharing those documents when questioned by DOJ leaders, but later emails emerged showing he had circulated the confidential material to recipients who were not authorized to receive it.

Personnel Actions and Current Status

The finding contributed to Martin's removal as head of the Justice Department’s so-called Weaponization Working Group on Jan. 1, 2026. He was reassigned out of the department’s main headquarters to a separate building that houses the pardon attorney — the only role he now holds — and is expected to leave the department in the coming weeks. Martin has not been charged with a crime, and DOJ has not publicly concluded that any laws were broken.

Official Statements

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s office oversaw the review. In a statement to CNN, Blanche said, “There are no misconduct investigations into Ed Martin. Ed is doing a great job as Pardon Attorney.” The statement did not explicitly address whether the department had conducted a formal misconduct investigation regarding the grand jury materials.

Context and Related Developments

Martin has been a central figure in the administration’s efforts to investigate or prosecute the president’s political opponents. That work included scrutiny of Sen. Adam Schiff and prosecutions involving former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James; a judge dismissed the Comey and James prosecutions in November, ruling the prosecutor who brought charges had been unlawfully appointed.

In January 2025, President Trump named Martin interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Martin moved quickly to realign DOJ priorities, demoting and removing senior prosecutors who had worked on Jan. 6 cases and pledging to protect employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). His nomination for the permanent U.S. attorney post failed to win sufficient Senate support, and the White House withdrew the nomination in May 2025.

How the Review Became Public

The review came to light in December when a subpoenaed witness, identified by CNN as Christine Bish, appeared at a courthouse in Greenbelt, Maryland to testify. Bish told investigators that she had been asked about two people who claimed to be working on fraud cases alongside Martin and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte; DOJ was probing whether those individuals had impersonated federal agents.

Shortly after the witness appearance, social media users flagged the ongoing probe and named Pulte and Martin as subjects. Attorney General Pam Bondi responded on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “There is no investigation into Bill Pulte,” without elaborating.

Weaponization Working Group Activity

Officials said Martin’s removal has not halted the Weaponization Working Group’s work. CNN reported the group has intensified efforts to review law-enforcement actions taken under the Biden administration for instances of what Attorney General Bondi has called “politicized justice,” and the group expects to release some findings soon.

Note: Martin has not been indicted, and DOJ officials emphasize that the review’s findings do not equate to criminal charges. The department’s internal conclusions and any subsequent actions remain distinct from potential criminal investigations.