Liz Oyer, who served as the U.S. pardon attorney, has initiated legal action against the Department of Justice (DOJ) following her firing in March 2025. Oyer contends that her termination was retaliatory, stemming from her refusal to recommend the restoration of firearm rights for actor Mel Gibson. The pardon attorney’s office is responsible for reviewing requests for clemency and firearm rights restoration, providing recommendations to the DOJ leadership.

According to the lawsuit, Oyer’s refusal to back the restoration of Gibson’s rights created friction with department leadership. Her dismissal was part of a larger series of personnel shifts and reassignments that took place at the DOJ during the same period. While the DOJ has not yet provided a detailed public response to the specific allegations regarding the Gibson case, the department has generally characterized the personnel moves as part of a standard administrative restructuring. The case highlights the tension between career civil servants and political appointees regarding the handling of high-profile clemency and rights-restoration petitions. As the litigation proceeds, the court will be tasked with determining whether Oyer’s termination was a legitimate administrative decision or an act of retaliation for her professional judgment on the Gibson petition.