Ed Martin, the newly appointed Justice Department pardon attorney, has personally reviewed a pardon application for Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes during his first full week in office. The review marks a significant shift in how politically sensitive pardon applications are being handled under the Trump administration. The Justice Department’s pardon attorney office, traditionally led by career officials, reviews clemency applications and makes recommendations to the president. While previous presidents have bypassed the pardon attorney for politically sensitive cases, Martin’s willingness to directly evaluate controversial applications through official channels represents a departure from historical norms. According to Liz Oyer, the previous pardon attorney who was terminated in March, having a political appointee in this role is unprecedented and suggests a different approach to wielding clemency power than previous administrations.