 After moving to the Los Angeles Times in September 2004, Martinez's duties were expanded to include oversight of the op-ed page and "Sunday Current", in addition to his responsibilities for the editorial page, upon the October 2005 resignation from the paper of Michael Kinsley, who had served as editorial and opinion editor.In March 2007, Los Angeles Times reporter James Rainey wrote that the paper's publisher David Hiller was considering the cancellation of that weekend's "Sunday Current" section in response to an internal controversy regarding Martinez's role.Rainey wrote that the news staff of the Times, including editor Jim O'Shea, pressured Hiller to stop publication after learning that Martinez was romantically involved with a key position employee

Martinez called a staff meeting in hopes of quelling criticism, where he denied that his relationship with Mullens played a role in Grazer's selection as guest editor.