Sen. Thom Tillis’ office has dismissed concerns that a left-wing court could appoint an interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia after the North Carolina Republican opposed President Donald Trump’s nomination for the role. With the May 20 deadline looming for the confirmation of Ed Martin as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Tillis made it clear that he would not support the nomination, putting the onus on the Trump administration to select a successor and prevent federal judges from getting involved.
As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee overseeing Martin’s confirmation process, Tillis raised objections to the nomination, leading to a delay in scheduling a vote on the appointment. If an interim U.S. attorney is not confirmed within 120 days, federal judges in the district could step in to name a replacement. Judge James Boasberg, an Obama-appointed judge known for his legal challenges against Trump’s deportation policies, could potentially play a role in appointing an interim U.S. attorney if the Senate fails to confirm Martin.
However, Tillis’ office assured that Attorney General Pam Bondi has the authority to select an acting replacement before the expiration of the original appointment, bypassing the need for judicial intervention. Under 28 U.S. Code § 546, the attorney general can appoint an acting U.S. attorney if the Senate fails to confirm a nominee within the specified timeframe.
Tillis expressed reservations about Martin’s appointment due to his previous role as a defense attorney representing individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. While acknowledging that some individuals may have been over-prosecuted, Tillis emphasized the seriousness of the events and questioned Martin’s suitability for the position in light of his past associations.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
Despite Tillis’ opposition, Trump and his administration have rallied support for Martin’s confirmation, highlighting the urgency of the appointment to address pressing issues in the District of Columbia. The former president called on Republican senators to prioritize Martin’s approval, emphasizing the importance of his role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring public safety.
In a show of solidarity, 23 state attorneys general penned a letter urging Senate leaders to swiftly confirm Martin as U.S. attorney, citing the need for effective leadership in addressing corruption and restoring the rule of law in the district. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita spearheaded the letter, praising Martin’s leadership and commitment to upholding the law in the nation’s capital.
As the confirmation process for Ed Martin nears its deadline, the Senate Judiciary Committee faces pressure to act decisively and confirm a qualified candidate to serve as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. With the involvement of key stakeholders and the backing of state attorneys general, the push for Martin’s confirmation underscores the importance of appointing a capable leader to address the challenges facing the district and uphold the principles of justice and integrity.
