{"id":133067,"date":"2025-09-10T15:52:06","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T23:52:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/09\/10\/maga-attorney-getting-slammed-for-bonkers-social-media-post\/"},"modified":"2025-09-10T15:52:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T23:52:06","slug":"maga-attorney-getting-slammed-for-bonkers-social-media-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/09\/10\/maga-attorney-getting-slammed-for-bonkers-social-media-post\/","title":{"rendered":"MAGA Attorney Getting Slammed For Bonkers Social Media Post"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Earlier this week, the Trump administration attorney in charge of pardons, Ed Martin, decided for reasons that remain unclear to post a picture of himself with comedian Russell Brand.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Good morning, America. How are ya\u2019? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/c1yx9ycT08\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/c1yx9ycT08<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Ed Martin (@EdMartinDOJ) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EdMartinDOJ\/status\/1965001679545450596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">September 8, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Martin is no stranger to<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/tag\/ed-martin\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> bad press.<\/a> He\u2019s notably controversial even in MAGA-land and had to be<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/05\/trump-taps-judge-jeanine-for-key-doj-role-after-consulting-evening-cable-lineup\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> pulled from consideration<\/a> from the DC US Attorney job after harassing\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/02\/turning-over-u-s-attorneys-office-to-conspiracy-theorist-working-out-as-expected\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">government officials<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/04\/dc-prosecutor-ed-martin-goes-after-wikipedia-for-exercising-first-amendment-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Wikipedia<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.opb.org\/article\/2025\/05\/02\/medical-journals-hit-with-threatening-letters-from-justice-department\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">random medical journals<\/a>. Plus, using his interim DOJ role to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/02\/u-s-attorney-ed-martin-blows-past-another-ethical-line\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">free his own clients<\/a>. Classy.<\/p>\n<p>But Martin\u2019s post is especially curious. Brand is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffpost.com\/entry\/pardon-attorney-ed-martin-russell-brand-doj_n_68c05820e4b059d8ed35e224?origin=home-latest-news-unit\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">currently facing<\/a> sexual assault charges in the United Kingdom. But the conspiracy theorist\u2019s legal woes also extend to this side of the pond; Brand is being sued in a New York court over allegations he assaulted a woman during the filming of Arthur. <\/p>\n<p>So, why is Martin posting pics with Brand? Does he want to reinforce the association of the Trump administration with sexual assault allegations? Is he a super fan of Forgetting Sarah Marshall? Who can say. But the internet sure has THOUGHTS.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">How did someone facing rape charges in the UK get a visa?  <\/p>\n<p>I thought the whole point was that the President didn\u2019t *want* (other) rapists to be sent here by foreign countries (competition?)<\/p>\n<p>Or maybe that\u2019s a no *brown* rapists thing?<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 John Oleske (@JohnOleske) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JohnOleske\/status\/1965078552090743038?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">September 8, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The United States Pardon Attorney, a senior member of the Justice Department, posting a smiley photo with a man charged with the rape,  indecent assault, oral rape and sexual assault of four different women. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MBeTOOQxtB\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/t.co\/MBeTOOQxtB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Arieh Kovler (@ariehkovler) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ariehkovler\/status\/1965060462300839938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">September 8, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>But for my $0.02, the most poignant burns come from DOJ alums. Stacey Young <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/05\/the-doj-civil-right-division-is-decimated\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">left the Department <\/a>after 18 years in the early days of the Trump II reign, and is deeply concerned about the new direction of the DOJ, as exemplified by her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7370920606155948032\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">post on LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Ed Martin, the failed D.C. U.S. Attorney nominee who now heads DOJ\u2019s \u201cWeaponization Working Group\u201d (named during a round of \u201cI know you are but what am I?\u201d), posted this photo this morning. It features Martin standing gleefully next to nobody\u2019s favorite comedian, Russell Brand, who\u2019s out of prison on bail as he awaits trial on multiple charges of rape and sexual assault.<\/p>\n<p>Martin shared this photo with the world at a time when DOJ is canceling hundreds millions of dollars in grants that fund programs serving crime victims, including sexual assault survivors; when the Office on Violence Against Women removed all open funding opportunities from its website; when FBI agents are being pulled away from their normal work, such as investigating sexual predators, so they can do ICE\u2019s job; and when the department, in promoting conspiracy theories surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, has left his sexual assault victims as an afterthought.<\/p>\n<p>Ed Martin\u2019s post encapsulates the callousness, hypocrisy, and misogyny oozing from DOJ\u2019s current leadership.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>But Young wasn\u2019t the only DOJ alum to sound off. Former Justice Department pardon attorney Elizabeth G. Oyer, who said<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/03\/doj-attorney-says-she-lost-her-job-because-she-wouldnt-let-mel-gibson-get-a-pew-pew\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> she was fired <\/a>after refusing to let Trump\u2019s friend Mel Gibson get his pew-pew back, commented on Young\u2019s LinkedIn post. \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely blowing my mind that this person sits in what was once my office and occupies my former job as Pardon Attorney!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That sentiment hits hard. 2025 is filled with all sorts of horrors. <\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><strong><em><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-80083 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/06\/IMG_5243-1-scaled-e1623338814705-620x568.jpg?resize=174%2C160&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"174\" height=\"160\" title=\"\">Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/1XC11QhFCWxWr4NQrk2sEA\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Jabot podcast<\/a>, and co-host of <a href=\"https:\/\/legaltalknetwork.com\/podcasts\/thinking-like-a-lawyer\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Thinking Like A Lawyer<\/a>. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email <a href=\"mailto:kathryn@abovethelaw.com?subject=Your%20Column\" target='_blank\"' rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">her<\/a> with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/09\/maga-attorney-getting-slammed-for-bonkers-social-media-post\/%E2%80%9C\/\/twitter.com\/Kathryn1%22%E2%80%9D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@Kathryn1<\/a>\u00a0or Mastodon <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/09\/maga-attorney-getting-slammed-for-bonkers-social-media-post\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@Kathryn1@mastodon.social.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/09\/maga-attorney-getting-slammed-for-bonkers-social-media-post\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">MAGA Attorney Getting Slammed For Bonkers Social Media Post<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this week, the Trump administration attorney in charge of pardons, Ed Martin, decided for reasons that remain unclear to post a picture of himself with comedian Russell Brand.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Good morning, America. How are ya\u2019? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/c1yx9ycT08\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/c1yx9ycT08<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Ed Martin (@EdMartinDOJ) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EdMartinDOJ\/status\/1965001679545450596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">September 8, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Martin is no stranger to<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/tag\/ed-martin\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> bad press.<\/a> He\u2019s notably controversial even in MAGA-land and had to be<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/05\/trump-taps-judge-jeanine-for-key-doj-role-after-consulting-evening-cable-lineup\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> pulled from consideration<\/a> from the DC US Attorney job after harassing\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/02\/turning-over-u-s-attorneys-office-to-conspiracy-theorist-working-out-as-expected\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">government officials<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/04\/dc-prosecutor-ed-martin-goes-after-wikipedia-for-exercising-first-amendment-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Wikipedia<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.opb.org\/article\/2025\/05\/02\/medical-journals-hit-with-threatening-letters-from-justice-department\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">random medical journals<\/a>. Plus, using his interim DOJ role to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/02\/u-s-attorney-ed-martin-blows-past-another-ethical-line\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">free his own clients<\/a>. Classy.<\/p>\n<p>But Martin\u2019s post is especially curious. Brand is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffpost.com\/entry\/pardon-attorney-ed-martin-russell-brand-doj_n_68c05820e4b059d8ed35e224?origin=home-latest-news-unit\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">currently facing<\/a> sexual assault charges in the United Kingdom. But the conspiracy theorist\u2019s legal woes also extend to this side of the pond; Brand is being sued in a New York court over allegations he assaulted a woman during the filming of Arthur. <\/p>\n<p>So, why is Martin posting pics with Brand? Does he want to reinforce the association of the Trump administration with sexual assault allegations? Is he a super fan of Forgetting Sarah Marshall? Who can say. But the internet sure has THOUGHTS.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">How did someone facing rape charges in the UK get a visa?  <\/p>\n<p>I thought the whole point was that the President didn\u2019t *want* (other) rapists to be sent here by foreign countries (competition?)<\/p>\n<p>Or maybe that\u2019s a no *brown* rapists thing?<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 John Oleske (@JohnOleske) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JohnOleske\/status\/1965078552090743038?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">September 8, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The United States Pardon Attorney, a senior member of the Justice Department, posting a smiley photo with a man charged with the rape,  indecent assault, oral rape and sexual assault of four different women. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MBeTOOQxtB\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/t.co\/MBeTOOQxtB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Arieh Kovler (@ariehkovler) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ariehkovler\/status\/1965060462300839938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">September 8, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>But for my $0.02, the most poignant burns come from DOJ alums. Stacey Young <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/05\/the-doj-civil-right-division-is-decimated\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">left the Department <\/a>after 18 years in the early days of the Trump II reign, and is deeply concerned about the new direction of the DOJ, as exemplified by her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/feed\/update\/urn:li:activity:7370920606155948032\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">post on LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Ed Martin, the failed D.C. U.S. Attorney nominee who now heads DOJ\u2019s \u201cWeaponization Working Group\u201d (named during a round of \u201cI know you are but what am I?\u201d), posted this photo this morning. It features Martin standing gleefully next to nobody\u2019s favorite comedian, Russell Brand, who\u2019s out of prison on bail as he awaits trial on multiple charges of rape and sexual assault.<\/p>\n<p>Martin shared this photo with the world at a time when DOJ is canceling hundreds millions of dollars in grants that fund programs serving crime victims, including sexual assault survivors; when the Office on Violence Against Women removed all open funding opportunities from its website; when FBI agents are being pulled away from their normal work, such as investigating sexual predators, so they can do ICE\u2019s job; and when the department, in promoting conspiracy theories surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, has left his sexual assault victims as an afterthought.<\/p>\n<p>Ed Martin\u2019s post encapsulates the callousness, hypocrisy, and misogyny oozing from DOJ\u2019s current leadership.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>But Young wasn\u2019t the only DOJ alum to sound off. Former Justice Department pardon attorney Elizabeth G. Oyer, who said<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/03\/doj-attorney-says-she-lost-her-job-because-she-wouldnt-let-mel-gibson-get-a-pew-pew\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> she was fired <\/a>after refusing to let Trump\u2019s friend Mel Gibson get his pew-pew back, commented on Young\u2019s LinkedIn post. \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely blowing my mind that this person sits in what was once my office and occupies my former job as Pardon Attorney!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That sentiment hits hard. 2025 is filled with all sorts of horrors. <\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><strong><em><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-80083 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/06\/IMG_5243-1-scaled-e1623338814705-620x568.jpg?resize=174%2C160&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"174\" height=\"160\" title=\"\">Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/1XC11QhFCWxWr4NQrk2sEA\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Jabot podcast<\/a>, and co-host of <a href=\"https:\/\/legaltalknetwork.com\/podcasts\/thinking-like-a-lawyer\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Thinking Like A Lawyer<\/a>. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email <a href=\"mailto:kathryn@abovethelaw.com?subject=Your%20Column\" target='_blank\"' rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">her<\/a> with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/09\/maga-attorney-getting-slammed-for-bonkers-social-media-post\/%E2%80%9C\/\/twitter.com\/Kathryn1%22%E2%80%9D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@Kathryn1<\/a>\u00a0or Mastodon <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/09\/maga-attorney-getting-slammed-for-bonkers-social-media-post\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@Kathryn1@mastodon.social.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/09\/maga-attorney-getting-slammed-for-bonkers-social-media-post\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">MAGA Attorney Getting Slammed For Bonkers Social Media Post<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Earlier this week, the Trump administration attorney in charge of pardons, Ed Martin, decided for reasons that remain unclear to post a picture of himself with comedian Russell Brand. Good morning, America. How are ya\u2019? pic.twitter.com\/c1yx9ycT08 \u2014 Ed Martin (@EdMartinDOJ) September 8, 2025 Martin is no stranger to bad press. He\u2019s notably controversial even in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":133068,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-133067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xira.com\/p\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_5243-1-scaled-e1623338814705-620x568-4z5cIl.jpg?fit=620%2C568&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133067","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=133067"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133067\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/133068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=133067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=133067"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=133067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}