President Donald Trump’s Pardon Attorney Ed Martin drew backlash this week after posting a photo of himself posing with comedian and accused rapist Russell Brand.
“Good morning, America. How are ya’?” Martin captioned his photo with Brand, which he posted Monday on his official X account.
Brand, 50, who starred in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (2008) and whose voice appears in the animated “Despicable Me” series, has taken a rightward shift in recent years, leaning into conspiracy theories in his online content.
He was charged in the United Kingdom earlier this year with rape and sexual assault following an 18-month investigation into incidents that allegedly took place between 1999 and 2005. He pleaded not guilty in a London court.
Back in the U.S., Brand is facing a lawsuit filed in New York by a woman who accused him of assaulting her while filming “Arthur” in 2010. The suit is ongoing, according to court records, and Brand has denied the woman’s allegations.
