Senator Tillis is breaking with President Trump by opposing his pick for a powerful prosecutor job. Tillis says the nominee’s ties to January 6 are a deal breaker.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — In a rare break between two top Republicans, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis says he won’t support President Donald Trump’s choice for one of the most powerful federal prosecutor positions in the country. Tillis made his decision because of concerns tied to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol that happened in 2021.
Trump has nominated Ed Martin to be the U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C.. The role oversees prosecutions for the Capitol region, including cases related to January 6. But Martin previously represented defendants charged in the attack, something Tillis says disqualifies him from the job.
“I think anybody that breached the perimeter should have been in prison for some time,” Tillis said. “We have to be very, very clear that what happened on January 6 was wrong. It was not prompted or created by other people to put those people in trouble. They made a stupid decision and they disgraced the United States by absolutely destroying the Capitol. I can’t have any patience for it.”
We’ve reached out to Senator Tillis for an interview about his decision. While we wait to hear back, the Senator is already facing backlash online from some Trump supporters.
A post from the account “MAGA Voice,” which has more than a million followers on X, blasted Tillis, saying:
“SENATOR THOM TILLIS IS A TRAITOR. 77 MILLION MAGA PATRIOTS VOTED FOR TRUMP’S AGENDA. IF HE DOES NOT VOTE FOR ED MARTIN, WHAT A SHAME IT WOULD BE TO VOTE HIM OUT IN 2026. TIME TO GET LOUD MAGA.”
Tillis’s opposition carries significant weight. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, his vote is critical for moving Martin’s nomination forward. Without his support, Washington insiders say it’s unlikely Martin will be confirmed.
