Acting U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ed Martin stirs controversy with prosecutor demotions, messages to "thugs"

Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin uses the nickname "The Eagle" on the job. He has been posting on social media about crime in Washington, D.C., using the hashtag #MarchBadness. Martin, whose nomination for the permanent post of U.S. attorney for D.C. is being considered by the Senate, has been attracting attention with his social media posts, as well as some of his actions in his capacity as acting U.S. attorney.

In one on Saturday, Martin wrote, "Hey, thugs with guns, you hear that? Yup, we comin.'"

He was likely referring to a memo circulated Monday to his staff, in which Martin said over a dozen agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would be dispatched to help with an "amazing opportunity" to help initiatives to reduce violent crime in the nation's capital.