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Justice Department Review Finds Trump Ally Improperly Leaked Grand Jury Material
Ed Martin, former head of DOJ's Weaponization Working Group, accused of mishandling sensitive information
Published on Feb. 3, 2026
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A Justice Department review found that Ed Martin, a Trump ally who previously led the DOJ's Weaponization Working Group, improperly handled grand jury materials that were part of an investigation targeting Donald Trump's political enemies. The review, overseen by the Deputy Attorney General's office, focused on whether grand jury information gathered in mortgage fraud inquiries into Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James had been illegally shared with unauthorized individuals.
Why it matters
This case highlights ongoing tensions within the Justice Department over politically-charged investigations and the handling of sensitive information. It raises questions about the integrity of the DOJ's processes and the potential for abuse of power under the Trump administration's efforts to target its political opponents.
The details
The review found that Martin had shared the secret grand jury material related to the Schiff case, despite initially denying doing so. Emails later surfaced showing that Martin had in fact shared the grand jury information. This misconduct finding gave the Deputy Attorney General a reason to further distance Martin from the department, leading to his removal as head of the Weaponization Working Group and relocation to a different DOJ building.
- The Justice Department review was overseen by the Deputy Attorney General's office in early 2026.
- Martin was removed as head of the Weaponization Working Group on January 1, 2026.
- Martin is expected to depart the Justice Department in the coming weeks.
The players
Ed Martin
A Trump ally who previously led the DOJ's Weaponization Working Group, accused of improperly handling grand jury materials related to investigations into Democratic figures.
Todd Blanche
The Deputy Attorney General who oversaw the review of Martin's handling of grand jury materials.
Adam Schiff
Democratic Senator who was the subject of a mortgage fraud inquiry that involved the grand jury materials Martin was accused of mishandling.
Letitia James
New York Attorney General who was also the subject of a mortgage fraud inquiry that involved the grand jury materials Martin was accused of mishandling.
What they’re saying
“'President Trump ordered Ed Martin to fight weaponization wherever it's found,'”
— A person close to Martin (CNN)
“'there are no misconduct investigations into Ed Martin. Ed is doing a great job as Pardon Attorney.'”
— Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General (CNN)
What’s next
The Justice Department has not determined whether any laws were broken in Martin's handling of the grand jury materials. Martin has not been charged with a crime, and his future at the DOJ remains uncertain as he is expected to depart in the coming weeks.
The takeaway
This case underscores the ongoing tensions within the Justice Department over politically-charged investigations and the potential for abuse of power under the Trump administration's efforts to target its political opponents. It raises serious questions about the integrity of the DOJ's processes and the need for stronger safeguards to prevent the mishandling of sensitive information.
