N.C. Sen. Thom Tillis delivers final blow to Trump DC attorney pick
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President Trump said Thursday he will pull the nomination of U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ed Martin, just days after North Carolina Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis said he wouldn't back him.
Why it matters: Martin's leniency toward Jan. 6 Capitol rioters — he demoted prosecutors who oversaw cases — lost him key Republican support in the U.S. Senate.
- A fire-breathing conservative podcaster, Martin was already on thin ice with the Senate Judiciary Committee for failing to originally disclose appearances on Russian state media.
- But Tillis delivered the final blow to Martin's nomination this week, telling reporters Tuesday that he had "no tolerance for anybody who entered the building on Jan. 6" and saying he had "indicated to the White House I wouldn't support his nomination."
Between the lines: The sinking of Martin's nomination is a major rebuke of a Trump loyalist for such a big job. It also means Trump will not be able to put into the position a MAGA true believer who relished national culture war battles and pushed a "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative.
- "He wasn't getting the support," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "I'm very disappointed in that. ... Hopefully we can bring him into, whether it's DOJ or whatever, in some capacity."
Yes, but: A source familiar with the matter told Axios that Martin probably didn't have the votes to get confirmed even before Tillis' public remarks.
State of play: For close observers of the Senate's swing votes, Tillis' comments aren't exactly a surprise.
- Tillis was a deciding vote on the confirmation of Trump's controversial defense secretary pick, Pete Hegseth. Despite telling Republican leaders he planned to oppose Hegseth and working quietly to round up opposition, Tillis ultimately fell in line and voted "yes."
- Tillis, who is seeking reelection next year in a seat that could determine which party controls the Senate, has long worked to position himself as a moderate, bipartisan dealmaker. His decisions have often enraged the GOP base.
- That positioning will likely make Tillis a formidable opponent in the general election in a swing state like North Carolina. But Tillis could also struggle to gain traction with the base if he faces a viable Republican primary challenger.
What they're saying: Firebrand conservatives in North Carolina and beyond were quick to attack Tillis after his Tuesday comments, though their efforts to save Martin's nomination fell short.
What's next: Trump said he would announce a replacement "over the next two days that will be great."