Former US pardon attorney Liz Oyer is suing the Department of Justice after being dismissed last year, alleging she was fired for refusing to recommend that actor Mel Gibson have his gun rights restored. Oyer, who worked in the DOJ’s pardon office, was removed in March 2025 during the early phase of dismissals and reassignments carried out after Donald Trump took office. She filed the claim through the nonprofit Democracy Forward and said her termination followed pressure to take part in what she described as a politically driven request linked to Gibson’s relationship with the new president. DOJ Asked Her to Facilitate a Gun-Rights RequestAccording to the lawsuit, Oyer was told to disregard her responsibilities shortly after Trump entered the White House. The suit says she was asked to produce the appearance of an independent review supporting restoration of firearm rights for Gibson. It adds that Gibson was convicted of a domestic violence offence, and that Oyer had concerns about public safety consequences from granting such a request given that history. The complaint states that Oyer received a brief notice of termination indicating she was being dismissed under the president’s authority under Article 2 of the US Constitution. It argues that the process did not follow protections owed to civil servants, including a 30-day notice period and the chance to respond in writing, as well as a requirement for a written decision setting out the reasons for removal. Alleged Breach of Constitutional and Statutory RightsOyer said in a statement that the case was about more than her own situation. She argued that US public servants depend on non-partisan officials to uphold the law without fear or favour, and that she was dismissed because she declined to place politics above her duties. She added that she believed her firing violated her constitutional and statutory rights and also raised risks for public safety. She said the DOJ should not operate by bending rules to satisfy a president’s associates, and that career officials could face consequences for refusing to do so. The suit also argues that her termination infringed her First Amendment rights. It says the removal was linked to Oyer’s perceived political affiliation, pointing to the fact that she was hired during Joe Biden’s administration. Replacement Named; Appeal to MSPB DelayedAfter Oyer’s dismissal, Trump installed Ed Martin as pardon attorney. Martin is described in the filing as a conservative activist who had represented a number of people accused in connection with the 6 January 2021 Capitol attack. The complaint says he had previously been nominated to serve as a US attorney but did not progress in the Senate amid concerns about his work for such clients. The lawsuit says Oyer turned to the courts after an earlier effort to challenge the decision through the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). It alleges that the MSPB appeal has stalled, stating that more than 16 months had passed without a substantive review of her termination. It further claims the case was recently deferred again, leaving her in prolonged “limbo”. The filing cites a decision in March 2026 in which the MSPB said it lacked jurisdiction in many cases involving removals carried out under what the government described as presidential Article II authority, rather than under the Civil Service Reform Act. Join the discussion? 4 September 2026
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