After a failing to secure confirmation as U.S. Attorney, Missouri politician Ed Martin has been appointed as “weaponization czar” by President Trump and within the Department of Justice, serving under Attorney General Pam Bondi. He has threatened to persecute anyone involved in holding President Trump accountable to the rule of law and suggested there will be ‘no limit to the targets.’

Well before his name became known as a potential US Attorney candidate, Martin was deeply embedded in foreign influence networks. As historian Timothy Snyder and media analyst Julia Davis have each reported recently, Martin has an extremely long history with Russian media channels, appearing on RT and Sputnik dozens of times. That alone is disqualifying for any role in government, but many others in the Trump-o-sphere also share this dubious distinction, including current Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Anyone targeted by Martin is likely someone who has also worked to block Russia’s efforts to subvert American democracy. Any bad-faith persecution of loyal Americans should be seen as illegitimate foreign influence. Martin should have been thoroughly investigated during the Biden administration and, if applicable, charged under the Foreign Agent Registration Act.

The fact that this was, apparently, not done speaks to either capture, fecklessness, or incompetence. Regardless, the fact remains: a fox is now not only guarding the hen-house, but has a target list. Watch him — like a hawk.