Robert Brannum has been involved with the District’s civic and political life for decades and he is passionate about fighting the disrespect the Trump administration has shown the city so far.
So, when Edward Martin, the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, was scheduled to be the speaker for the March 25 Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC)meeting, he ventured from his home in Ward 5 in Northeast to Martha’s Table, located in Ward 8 in Southeast, to listen to what Martin had to say. He was not impressed.
“This was the biggest dog and pony show,” said Brannum, 72. “He works for the biggest criminal in the world, and he comes here to tell us about crime.”
Martin was appointed as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this year. Martin has no experience as a prosecutor and no extensive ties to the District.
He has worked as an aide to the governor of Missouri and ran as a congressional candidate in that state, also. He has been active with organizations affiliated with the late Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative activist who has been credited for defeating the Equal Rights Amendment in the late 1970s.
Martin’s Message to the ACC
Martin began his 15-minute remarks before the overflow crowd of 150 people by saying he wants to enforce the laws in the community.
He spoke of participating in Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) ride-alongs with officers and visiting the 7D headquarters.
“I believe families deserve to be safe,” he said. “Kids deserve to be safe.”
Martin said Trump charged him with “making D.C. safe.”
He said the president also mentioned appointing more judges in the D.C. Superior Court and hiring more prosecutors.
“My office is not on a hiring freeze,” he said.
Speaking of the “Make DC Safe Again,” Martin said he is committed to fighting gun-oriented crimes and wants more juveniles who commit adult-level offenses to be charged appropriately.
“We have 16 and 17-year-olds doing adult crimes and they have to be treated as adults,” he said.
Martin said he will participate in a joint meeting with D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb regarding an appearance on issues regarding the community. He also pledged to work on mental health and diversion programs for people caught up in the criminal justice system.
Longtime Ward 8 activist Brenda H. Jones was underwhelmed by Martin’s speech.
“He didn’t say anything that people wanted to hear,” said Jones. “What he should have done is made a few remarks and listened to what the people had to say. He should have just introduced himself and said, ‘I am here to hear what you have to say.’ All that stuff about his life was unnecessary.”
Lamont Mitchell, the chairman of ACC, at times had to calm people down during the meeting.
Mitchell said Martin’s appearance was important so people could get to know him.
“He is the chief law enforcement officer in the city, and we have to listen to what he has to say,” said Mitchell. “He is here, and we have to deal with him.”