Justice Department pardon lawyer who says she was fired in dispute over Mel Gibson’s gun rights sues

WASHINGTON (AP) – A former Justice Department pardon attorney who notes she was fired after she refused to recommend the restoration of actor Mel Gibson's gun rights sued Thursday over her termination, calling it illegal punishment for her unwillingness to grant a.

What happened

Liz Oyer notes in her lawsuit that her March 2025 firing came after she declined a request from the staff of then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to add Gibson to a list of individuals for whom the Justice Department would recommend the reinstatement of their gun rights. Oyer notes she objected for public safety reasons given Gibson's prior domestic violence conviction that had resulted in the loss of his gun privileges.

Notably, the lawsuit notes that hours after she drafted a memo conveying her worries, a colleague pulled her out of a session and Justice Department security officers handed her a termination letter, instructed her to pack her belongings and escorted her from the building.

The bottom line

In short, justice Department pardon lawyer who says she was fired in dispute over is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.