Former pardon attorney challenges firing after refusing to restore Mel Gibson’s gun rights

Former U.S. pardon attorney Liz Oyer is suing the Department of Justice (DOJ) over her termination, which took place last year after she refused to recommend that actor Mel Gibson have his gun rights restored.

Oyer was dismissed in March 2025, one of many in an early wave of dismissals and reassignments at the DOJ in the first few months of the Trump administration.

“Shortly after President Trump took office, Ms. Oyer was asked to disregard her duties and facilitate a political favor for the actor Mel Gibson, based on Mr. Gibson’s relationship with President Trump. Ms. Oyer was asked to make it seem like an independent review had concluded that Mr. Gibson, who was convicted of a domestic violence offense, should have his gun rights restored,” states the suit, which was filed on Oyer’s behalf through the nonprofit Democracy Forward.

“Ms. Oyer had serious concerns about the public safety implications of granting Mr. Gibson’s request in light of his history of domestic violence and the well-documented dangers of placing firearms in the hands of domestic abusers.”Like others fired under the Trump administration, Oyer received a........

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