Why is Ed Martin So Interested in Medical Journal Publication Practices?
Ed Martin, the Interim US Attorney for the District of Columbia, has sent out a letter to a rather obscure medical journal, “Chest” – a journal published in Illinois by the American College of Chest Physicians and focused on pulmonary and sleep-related medical research[*]. The letter, dated 4/14/2025, was first reported on the website “Medpage Today,” and was, apparently, one of at least three that Martin sent out to different medical journals.
The letter raises a number of interesting questions.
-  Why in God’s name is the US Attorney for DC interested in the publication practices of an obscure specialty medical journal published in Illinois? Is there not enough crime in DC to keep him otherwise fully occupied?
- Why is the text of the letter such a mishmash of incomprehensible nonsense?
What does it mean – in English – to say that publications like CHEST Journal “are conceding that they … have a position for which they are advocating either due to advertisement (under postal code) or sponsorship (under relevant fraud regulations).” [Emphasis added]
Why does it say “I look forward to I look forward to and appreciate your cooperation with my letter of inquiry after request”?
Why does Martin begin by declaring that he “receive[s] frequent requests for information and clarification” and that he “take[s] these requests seriously and act[s] on them with letters like this one you are receiving”? What is he talking about?
Article from Reason.com
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