Interim US attorney for DC backs Elon Musk, warns against resisting DOGE
The interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia on Monday pledged his office’s support to billionaire Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency,” vowing to “pursue any and all legal action against anyone who impedes your work or threatens your people.”
Edward R. Martin Jr.’s letter backing Musk’s White House team, which is charged with recommending overhauls to the federal bureaucracy, was posted on Martin’s personal account on X, Musk’s social media platform.
Martin’s references to “threats” against DOGE personnel came after Musk responded overnight, “You have committed a crime,” to a poster on X whose account has been suspended. The original post was blocked, but commentators who viewed it said it named people Musk had working for him in the advisory group.
Musk’s DOGE representatives moved over the weekend to take over and shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development, removing top security officials at USAID who refused to allow DOGE representatives access to restricted spaces at the agency. DOGE representatives also reportedly gained access to the Treasury Department’s federal payment system and personnel records from the Office of Personnel Management.
In Martin’s letter to Musk, he wrote, “It was good to work with the DOGE team this weekend. We must keep all our American government employees safe and we must protect the American people’s property. Anyone imperiling others violating our laws.”
Addressing Musk as “Dear Elon,” and adding “Elon” in his personal handwriting, Martin assured the Trump adviser that “any threats, confrontations, or other actions in any way that impact their work may break numerous laws.”
Martin has taken a high profile since Jan. 20, when the conservative activist and commentator became the first U.S. attorney for D.C. in at least 50 years to be appointed without experience as a judge or a federal prosecutor. He has fired Capitol riot prosecutors who were recently hired and still on probationary status, ordered top supervisors in the office to investigate their colleagues’ handling of some Jan. 6 prosecutions after President Donald Trump’s mass pardons, launched an inquiry involving Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) and maintained an outspoken presence on his personal and official U.S. attorney social media accounts.
“We will not act like the previous administration who looked the other way as the Antifa and BLM rioters as well as thugs with guns trashed our capital city. We will protect DOGE and other workers no matter what,” Martin said. Referring to “the Communist Chinese,” he added, “Please be very aware that there are those who are acting against our American people in every way. Refer to us any questionable conduct or details you find or notice. Please keep in touch.”
See also:
Interim US attorney conducts late-Friday firings of more than two dozen Jan. 6 prosecutors
Write a letter to the editor, share a story tip or update, or report an error.
