DOJ Attorney Fired After Refusing Mel Gibson's Gun Rights Restoration

Elizabeth G. Oyer, a former pardon attorney at the Department of Justice, claims she was fired after refusing to include actor Mel Gibson in a list for restored gun rights. Oyer faced pressure from her superiors, emphasizing that reinstating gun rights for individuals with domestic violence histories posed serious safety risks. She expressed her concerns following a domestic violence conviction that led to Gibson's gun rights being revoked in 2011, stating, "This is dangerous. This isn’t political — this is a safety issue." The situation has raised alarms about the politicization within the DOJ, particularly regarding the influence of celebrity relationships on legal decisions. Oyer's dismissal highlights an ongoing trend of purging experienced federal law enforcement personnel under the Trump administration. The DOJ, however, maintains that Oyer's firing was unrelated to her stance on Gibson's case.