Donald Trump's pick for key office 'appeared on Russian state TV over 150 times'

's nominee to serve as US attorney for the District of Columbia appeared at least 150 times on Russian state-funded outlets RT and Sputnik - and possibly far more, according to sources familiar with Senate inquiries. These included segments that questioned US foreign policy and echoed Kremlin narratives on Syria, Ukraine, and . Ed Martin, a former Missouri Republican official and conservative activist, is currently serving as interim US attorney in Washington.

The US attorney's office in DC is the largest in the country and has wide jurisdiction over national security prosecutions - including those related to foreign interference and Russian influence campaigns. These include the case of Natalia Burlinova, charged in 2023 with acting as an unregistered agent of the Russian government. Burlinova led a Russian state-funded influence programme called "Meeting Russia," targeting young American professionals including federal employees.

The office also prosecuted several advisers to Trump - including Martin allies Roger Stone and Michael Flynn.

Martin was nominated by Trump to the permanent role earlier this year and is now undergoing formal Senate confirmation.

While there is no evidence that he coordinated with Russian officials or acted as a paid agent, revelations about his past are causing concern.

A review of Russian state media archives reveals Martin made frequent appearances as a guest commentator on RT and Sputnik from August 2016 to April 2024 - more than on any major US cable network during the same period.

Most of those interviews were not disclosed in Martin's official questionnaire to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which requires nominees to list all media appearances.

Martin disclosed just 16 interviews between 2016 and 2024, omitting all but three RT appearances. In fact, sources claim he may have taken part in as many as 350 interviews and published statements - a far higher number than other nominees in recent years.

Both RT and Sputnik were ordered to register as foreign agents by the Justice Department in 2017 and have since been sanctioned by the US and allied governments for spreading disinformation.

RT ceased US operations in 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, though its content remains available via third-party platforms.

Martin's commentary frequently aligned with Kremlin positions.

In 2017, ahead of US missile strikes in Syria, he told RT viewers that the Assad regime might not be responsible for a chemical weapons attack that killed nearly 90 civilians - suggesting instead that "the people that want war in Syria" were behind the incident.

In 2022, just nine days before Russia invaded Ukraine, Martin told RT there was "no evidence" of a Russian military buildup and accused US leaders of "warmongering." Critics argue Martin's extensive appearances on Russian state media raise concerns about his judgment and suitability for the role.

"It shows very bad judgment," Russian influence specialist Olga Belogolova, director of the Emerging Technologies Initiative at Johns Hopkins University, told the .

"Since 2016, you cannot pretend not to know what RT and Sputnik are."

Martin's office said last week that he has since provided a supplemental letter to the Senate disclosing additional appearances. The Judiciary Committee is still reviewing the new materials.

Its chairman, Republican Sen Chuck Grassley, confirmed Martin has received more than 500 questions from senators - far more than a typical nominee.

The nomination by Trump has drawn further scrutiny due to Martin's political record. He played a prominent role in the "Stop the Steal" movement following the 2020 election and has called both that election and the investigation into Russian election interference in 2016 "hoaxes."

And it is all the more controversial because he is widely seen as under-qualified for the post. Though he is a member of the Missouri Bar, he has limited experience as a prosecutor, and his recent litigation work is largely confined to representing Jan. 6 defendants. He has no federal prosecutorial background.

The White House has defended the nomination. "President Trump made a brilliant choice," a spokesperson said, calling Martin "the perfect leader to restore law and order."

Democrats have called for a full hearing and floor vote before Martin's interim appointment expires on May 20. If he is not confirmed by then, federal judges in DC will name a new interim attorney.

The Express has contacted Ed Martin's office for comment.