Liz Oyer sues Trump administration over Justice Department firing

Former U.S. Pardon Attorney Liz Oyer has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking reinstatement after her March 2025 termination. Oyer alleges her firing was an illegal punishment for refusing to grant a “political favor” regarding actor Mel Gibson’s firearm rights.

Oyer claims she declined a request from the staff of then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to recommend restoring Gibson’s gun rights, citing public safety concerns due to Gibson’s prior domestic violence conviction. While Blanche has denied knowledge of the matter during his Senate confirmation hearings, Oyer asserts her removal violated her First and Fifth Amendment rights and the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act.

The lawsuit follows Oyer’s frustration with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), which she described as a “dead end.” After her initial appeal failed to receive substantive review and an administrative judge dismissed her case without prejudice, Oyer turned to federal court to challenge the administration’s use of “Article II” authority to bypass civil service protections for career employees.