Overview

• Elizabeth Oyer, former DOJ pardon attorney, claims she was fired after refusing to recommend restoring Mel Gibson's gun rights, which he lost due to a 2011 domestic violence conviction.
• Oyer stated she was pressured to add Gibson to a list of candidates for gun rights restoration, with officials citing his personal relationship with President Trump as justification.
• Gibson had not undergone the same vetting process as other candidates, and Oyer expressed concerns about the risks of granting firearms to individuals with a history of domestic violence.
• The Justice Department denies that Oyer's decision regarding Gibson played a role in her termination, though sources indicate her dismissal occurred shortly after her refusal.
• Oyer's firing is part of a broader pattern of personnel changes within the DOJ under the Trump administration, raising concerns about politicization and loyalty tests in key roles.