Loyalty is a quality that is getting harder to find these days, as President Donald Trump discovered after North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis backstabbed him by yanking his support of his nominee to head up the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C., citing statements made by the candidate in the past concerning Jan. 6, 2021’s Capitol riot as his reason.
To say that MAGA supporters are upset would be a massive understatement. More like the tops are being blown like the lid of a neglected pressure cooker. And rightfully so.
Tillis, who will be up for reelection in the 2026 midterms, spoke with members of the press under the Capitol building on Tuesday, where he said that he will oppose the confirmation of Ed Martin, who is serving as the U.S. Attorney as we speak. He then said he was relying on the North Carolina Republican to push him over unanimous opposition by Democrats as well as other moderate members of the GOP.
“I met with Mr. Martin. He seems like a good man. Most of my concerns related to January 6th,” he said, going on to say Martin “built a compelling case” that some of the J6 prosecutions were poorly made.
“Where we probably have a difference is I think anybody that breaks the perimeter should’ve been imprisoned for some period of time, whether there’s 30 days or three years is debatable, but I have no tolerance for anybody who entered the building on January the 6th,” he continued.
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Martin was a linchpin in the Trump administration’s efforts to unwind the prosecution and sentences for hundreds of J6 defendants who were set free almost immediately after the president took office, fulfilling a pledge he made after many faced prison sentences, with the longest stretching almost 20 years.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the loss of Tillis’s support means Martin’s nomination will almost certainly not advance from the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it is likely deadlocked 11-11, Politico reported. Trump appears to be personally invested in Martin’s nomination, posting on Truth Social Monday, “Ed is coming up on the deadline for Voting and, if approved, HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN.”
Martin’s current appointment as acting attorney is up on May 20.
Thune could still attempt to push Martin’s nomination through without a vote of the Judiciary Committee, however, he would face bigger problems on the Senate floor coming from GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Arkansas, Susan Collins of Maine, John Curtis of Utah, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Asked about Martin’s prospects Tuesday, Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) replied, “I want the president’s nominees to be successful, and that means we put on [the committee agenda] people who have the votes.” Tillis’ opposition, Grassley added, “isn’t the end of it, but that’s where we are right now.”
The report closed out by stating that, as of now, many political analysts believe that the 2026 election cycle is going to be a big success for Republicans; however, Tillis is struggling to balance appeasing an increasingly liberal North Carolina while remaining a member of the GOP.
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