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Justice Department pardon lawyer who says she was fired in dispute over Mel Gibson's gun rights sues
Liz Oyer says her firing was retaliation for refusing to back restoring Mel Gibson’s gun rights and violated civil service protections, her lawsuit says.
Former Justice Department pardon attorney Liz Oyer sued the agency Thursday, alleging she was fired for refusing to restore actor Mel Gibson's gun rights as an illegal "political favor" for a friend of President Donald Trump.
Oyer objected to the request citing Gibson's prior domestic violence conviction, which resulted in the loss of his gun privileges. Her March 2025 termination followed her refusal to comply with then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's staff.
At his confirmation hearing last month, Blanche denied Oyer's account, stating her firing resulted from recommendations inconsistent with Trump's authority, including commuting sentences for 37 federal death row inmates.
Seeking reinstatement, Oyer filed her lawsuit in Washington after the Merit Systems Protection Board left her complaint in "prolonged limbo," arguing her termination violated First Amendment rights and civil service protections.
The case reflects broader concerns about civil service integrity; Oyer maintains firing officials for refusing to bend rules sends a message that "loyalty to a politician matters more than loyalty to the Constitution.