While working as the Department of Justice's pardon attorney, Ed Martin personally reviewed the pardon application for Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers.
Rhodes was convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Rhodes' attorney Peter Ticktin hand-delivered 11 pardon applications to Martin at the Justice Department last week, including Rhodes', according to Politico.
"I know Ed Martin and I felt it was important to bring these particular applications to his attention," Ticktin told Politico.
Proud Boys members Joseph Biggs, Ethan Nordean, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola are also among those who submitted new applications since Martin's appointment, Ticktin told Politico.
While President Donald Trump pardoned or dismissed convictions/charges of nearly 1,600 people charged in the unrest, many convicted of seditious conspiracy had their sentences commuted to time served, Politico said. Many are now advocating to be fully pardoned.
Martin pledged to advance the applications to White House pardon czar Alice Johnson but made no promises Trump would grant the pardons, Ticktin told Politico.
The Department of Justice and the White House did not respond to requests for comment to Politico.
Before working in the White House, Martin represented several Jan. 6 figures. He was on Capitol Hill that day, comparing it to Mardi Gras. Martin's work with the Jan. 6 protesters helped scuttle his nomination for top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia.
Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.