A former U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) pardon attorney, Liz Oyer, is suing the department over her termination, which she says happened after she refused to recommend restoring actor Mel Gibson’s gun rights. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., names the DOJ and Attorney General Todd Blanche. Oyer says she was dismissed in March 2025.
Oyer alleges she was asked to disregard her duties and facilitate what she characterizes as a political favor connected to Gibson. The complaint argues the request was tied to Gibson’s relationship with Donald Trump, which Oyer says influenced how her recommendations were handled. Other reporting places the timing within an early wave of DOJ personnel changes, describing her firing as part of broader dismissals and reassignments.
Across the outlets, the dispute centers on whether Oyer was removed for failing to align her pardon recommendation with the department’s wishes regarding gun rights for Gibson. The coverage emphasizes her claim of unlawful retaliation and the allegation that she was pressured because of Trump-related connections, while not detailing a DOJ response in the provided accounts.
