Ed Martin, President Trump's nominee for U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, is trying to distance himself from a convicted Jan. 6 Capitol rioter known for his racist and antisemitic rhetoric. Federal prosecutors have described the man, Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, as a "Nazi sympathizer."
But NPR's reporting — including a direct email exchange with Martin and a review of a series of podcast interviews he conducted — casts doubt on the accuracy of Martin's sworn testimony to the U.S. Senate. In written answers to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Martin now claims he was unaware of Hale-Cusanelli's past comments until at least August 2024.
"I am not close with him," Martin told the Senate. "The statements that individual made are abhorrent, deplorable and unacceptable in any context."
However, in an email in September 2024, NPR wrote to Martin and made him aware of a laundry list of Hale-Cusanelli's prior antisemitic and racist statements. In subsequent weeks and months, Martin continued to praise Hale-Cusanelli as an "amazing guy" and "great friend," and they appeared at multiple events together.
David Gergen, a journalist who served as a White House advisor to Republican and Democratic presidents,...
