Tillis vs Trump’s Pardon Attorney Erupts Over January 6 Litmus Test for AG Nominees

A fierce showdown between Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Ed Martin, the Trump administration’s DOJ Pardon Attorney, exploded on social media April 30, spotlighting a GOP civil war over January 6 accountability. Tillis announced he will impose a strict January 6 “litmus test” on any future attorney general nominee, vowing to block candidates who excuse or minimize the violent Capitol attack. This threat carries real weight since Tillis sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee and can stall nominees from reaching a full Senate vote.

The spat traces back to Tillis blocking Martin’s nomination as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, citing Martin’s vocal defense of January 6 rioters and his work representing them legally. Trump pulled Martin’s nomination amid insufficient Senate support and replaced him with Fox News personality Jeanine Pirro. Martin later resurfaced as the DOJ’s Pardon Attorney, a role that has drawn fresh scrutiny given his January 6 sympathies.

The feud reignited when Tillis expanded his opposition beyond Martin, signaling a broader crackdown on nominees with January 6 sympathies. Tillis’s personal connection to the attack adds gravity: he was reportedly the last senator to leave the chamber as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, temporarily halting the Electoral College count.

Martin struck back with a venomous message from his official DOJ account—later deleted and reposted from his personal handle—accusing Tillis of claiming that Ashli Babbitt, the rioter fatally shot during the attack, “deserved it.” Martin closed with a blunt “just go to Hell” and a #DrainTheSwamp hashtag. He also alleged Tillis had called him to intervene in a pardon case, a claim Tillis quickly refuted. Tillis clarified the call was to oppose a pardon for Greg Lindberg, a convicted fraudster who bilked North Carolinians out of billions, undermining Martin’s narrative of Tillis seeking favors.

This North Carolina GOP clash is part of a broader pattern. Trump has hinted on Truth Social at backing a primary challenger against Tillis in 2026, retaliating for Tillis’s opposition to Trump’s picks. Trump also publicly pushed for Martin’s confirmation before the nomination collapsed, promising Martin “WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN.”

Tillis’s January 6 litmus test casts a shadow over Trump’s next attorney general choice. Details remain vague on what statements or actions would disqualify a nominee, but Tillis’s stance signals a rare Republican willingness to hold the line on January 6 accountability. Meanwhile, Martin’s incendiary attack from a government account raises ethical questions about politicizing official resources.

This feud exposes the fault lines within the GOP over January 6—between those who defend the rioters and those who demand consequences. As Trump continues to reward loyalty over law, Tillis’s defiance offers a rare flicker of resistance from within the party’s ranks.

We will be watching closely as this battle over the soul of the Justice Department unfolds. The stakes could not be higher for the future of accountability in the Trump era.