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In the United States of America, freedom prevails, granting each individual the liberty to converse with whomever they choose, wherever they may be around the globe, discussing whatever topics they wish. Should a representative from an adversary state’s publicity division reach out and urge you to publicly criticize your homeland, you have the right to comply. Although this action could be seen as unpatriotic or unwise, it remains within your rights to decide.
If you aspire to become a United States attorney with the Department of Justice, keep in mind that making appearances on the state TV network of a neo-fascist regime and delivering conspiratorial, anti-American speeches could draw significant scrutiny—particularly if these actions appear concealed from the U.S. Senate committee tasked with reviewing your appointment. Furthermore, if you’re just a regular American citizen, it’s wise to be cautious about anyone seeking a role at the Justice Department who readily lends their voice to Russian propaganda initiatives.
Ed Martin has been nominated by the Trump administration to serve as the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Previously unsuccessful in politics and past chair of the Missouri Republican Party, he currently works as a far-right podcaster and prominent presence on social media platforms.
January 6 truther
who
believes
that Justice Department lawyers are the president’s personal consiglieri. He has also, however, been a regular commentator on RT America, the English-language flagship for the Kremlin’s propaganda efforts until it was
dropped
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this channel was discontinued. At one point, however, it included notable figures such as Larry King along with several less prominent American personalities. For instance, do you happen to know what became of
Scottie Nell Hughes
, who years ago promoted Donald Trump on CNN? I didn’t know about it either, but after viewing Martin’s segments, I found out that she eventually moved to RT.
Martin,
according
to
The Washington Post
was a frequent contributor around 150 times to RT America and its affiliated platform, Sputnik, between 2016 and 2024. It’s true that even seasoned pundits may occasionally end up on networks that prove to be questionable platforms or get matched with guests they would typically shun. However, appearing so often—sometimes engaging in lighthearted exchanges with individuals who could be considered disreputable like
George Galloway
, a
pro-Putin
British politician who was kicked out of the Labour Party more than 20 years ago for, among other things,
encouraging
Arabs battled against British troops, and this conflict had persisted for a long time.
accused
of various extremist views—suggests a genuinely comfortable relationship with the outlet. (For the record, over the course of my academic career as a professor of national-security affairs, I was occasionally invited to appear on RT America. I always declined.)
Perhaps, one might hope, Martin agreed to appear so that he could be a voice of probity and reason in the face of Russian disinformation, exactly the qualities one would appreciate in a U.S. attorney. Not a chance: He was more often the source of conspiracy theories and anti-American accusations, all delivered with the kind of cheerful confidence that always translates well on television.
I watched several of his appearances, which are still available on RT’s
website
A prominent theme becomes clear: Russia tends to be correct, whereas America (with the exception of when Donald Trump was at the helm) often errs.
For instance, Martin pointed fingers at the U.S. government for malicious activities right before Russia’s second invasion of Ukraine in 2022; according to him, Washington was involved.
said
During an appearance in February of that same year, he stated that “what’s occurring in Europe” was being driven by someone else, whereas Putin was merely aiming for negotiations and a “defined peace.” This seemed to be consistent with a recurring trend.
Post
Additionally, they recorded several of Martin’s comments on RT, where he falsely asserted that the 2017 Syrian chemical weapons incident—which prompted Trump to respond militarily—was orchestrated in Washington by those advocating for war in Syria. (Should his appointment as U.S. attorney not come through, he might consider becoming a spokesperson for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who raises concerns.)
views
he seems to share.)
The following day after he defended Putin, Martin
returned
To retweet and claim that President Joe Biden is aiming to instigate a conflict with Russia, despite the U.S. having withdrawn from Afghanistan. (Logically, this doesn’t hold up since Biden would hardly attempt starting a war in Europe immediately following the significant political cost associated with concluding America’s longest war, yet much like those fraternity guys)
said
in
Animal House
“Don’t even bother; he’s just going along with it.” According to Martin, Biden’s team sees “regime change” as their default stance wherever they look. He also criticized former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan for sparking tension by disclosing US intelligence indicating that Russia was planning a significant assault on Ukraine.
Of course, the Kremlin
was
getting ready for an assault, with the Biden administration being
trying
To discourage Putin from advancing by demonstrating that the Russians had forfeited any element of surprise.
Apart from echoing Russian viewpoints on Syria and Russia, Martin also shared numerous comments about the United States, portraying it as an oppressive country under the control of sinister elements. “Saying that the U.S. elections in 2020 were flawed could likely result in your arrest or disbarment,”—I believe he was referring to that.
disbarred
—“or attacked in some very specific way,” he
said
in December 2023, oblivious to the irony that he was speaking on the television outlet of an authoritarian state. “Big Tech and Big Media are backed up by Big Government, and they’re forcing the message” about a looming war in Ukraine, he
said
In January 2022, this was not his initial instance of voicing such allegations. He stated, “The biggest danger to democracy globally,”
declared
In November 2021, “the American media,” particularly due to their embrace of the so-called “Russia hoax,” according to Martin, who suggested this led to the incarceration of seemingly innocent individuals. During his statement, Martin also mentioned the previous Trump campaign manager.
Paul Manafort
, who was
convicted
for various offenses such as tax fraud and conspiracy against the United States, prior to receiving a pardon from Trump.)
Once more, Ed Martin is an American who can converse with whomever he pleases. Professor John Mearsheimer from the University of Chicago, whose notable academic career is significantly tied to the currently absurd claim, has positioned his extensive and respected scholarly reputation on what is now considered a laughable assertion.
position
when reached out to, defended Martin regarding the notion that the West is responsible for the Ukraine conflict.
Post
“Even though the U.S. government and other administrations have been battling against RT for quite some time, it remains legal for Americans to be featured on their programs.”
Many actions may not be against the law, yet they can still be considered unwise or outright foolish. Nobody was “declaring war” on RT America; however, labeling and combating it as an incessant purveyor of Russian propaganda could be seen as engaging in such a conflict. Following Russia’s aggressive military action starting in 2022, major U.S. cable and satellite companies chose to cease carrying it. In contrast to vital media outlets like Radio Liberty and the Voice of America, which have broad audiences, this situation highlights significant differences.
under attack
By the Trump administration, RT America received backing from its government but saw a decline in viewership.
Mearsheimer argues that Martin’s public appearances fall under the umbrella of free speech, and this is true. However, the substantial coverage he received from Russian media—notably 150 mentions—is troubling. This could indicate a lack of discretion unless Martin genuinely did not know about RT America, an issue in itself. These instances have generated numerous comments that ought to deeply worry senators as they consider granting him the authority of a U.S. attorney. It appears Martin recognizes the unfavorable impression his actions create. As stated by
Post
’s reporting, he somehow avoided informing the Senate about these guest shots when he was first nominated. A spokesman for Martin told the
Post
he stated that “all the mentioned connections were included in an additional letter sent to the Senate” during the last couple of days, as reported by CNN.
reported
This morning, it was noted that Martin failed to mention multiple appearances on American right-wing media platforms at first.
Certainly, within Trump’s political sphere, supporting Russia while criticizing the U.S. is not necessarily seen as grounds for being disqualified from holding public office, particularly since the president himself has engaged in similar behavior.
doing the same
For many years now. Undoubtedly, the Russians appear content: Margarita Simonyan, who serves as the editor-in-chief of RT in Russia and acts as one of Putin’s primary propagandists,
said
Yesterday on X, Martin’s record demonstrated that being featured on RT 150 times can significantly boost one’s career. Receiving praise from a supporter of Russian media is quite advantageous.
war crimes
This isn’t quite the type of approval that ought to result in confirming a U.S. attorney.
Martin’s readiness to serve as a frequent contributor on Russian TV is a stark indicator of his imprudent nature and clear political radicalism. Furthermore, he seemingly bet that his egregious remarks would be overlooked after RT America ceased operations, which raises concerns and ought to make the Senate cautious when considering whether to approve an outlier within conservative media for a crucial role in the U.S. government.
