Washington DC’s top prosecutor announces election fraud probe, though authority unclear
Ed Martin, who promoted false 2020 voter fraud claim, forms a ‘special unit’ to investigate election offences
US President Donald Trump’s top federal prosecutor in Washington on Monday announced a new push to investigate election fraud cases, according to an internal email seen by Reuters, though it was not clear how much power his office will have to do so.
“Americans do not have confidence in our election systems,” Martin wrote in the email, noting the new section has already opened one investigation. “One of the best ways to restore that confidence is to protect our systems and to demand accountability.”
Martin did not explain whether he would have any jurisdiction to pursue election fraud cases beyond the District of Columbia.
He also did not indicate whether he had spoken with the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section, which according to department rules must be consulted before a federal prosecutor can open an election fraud case.
A spokesperson for Martin’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Public Integrity Section has been hit with a wave of resignations, after top Justice Department official Emil Bove pressured its lawyers to dismiss criminal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.