O actor Mel Gibson.
Lawyer Elizabeth Oyer denounces that she was fired from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) after refusing to restore the rights of gun possession to actor Mel Gibson, who is a supporter of Donald Trump.
Elizabeth Oyer had led the DJ’s forgiveness since 2022, being responsible for Review Presidential Clement Requestssuch as pardon or sentence switching, before they reach the president, analyzing criminal records and other relevant details to issue a recommendation.
The lawyer says she was farewell after refusing to recommend the restoration of gun rights rights to. A decision that made based on a misdemeanor (a violation of the law that is considered less serious) of the actor by domestic violence em 2011.
Federal law prohibits people convicted of crimes, including domestic violence, to be prevented from possessing or buying firearms.
But one of the first measures of the new leadership From the DOJ, assumed by the lawyer, was the replacement of the rights of gun possession to criminals previously convicted.
“Administration [de Trump] sees this statute as a way to effectively usurp the Arms Control Law and Return the weapons to the people they likeor to anyone who is politically convenient, ”he says to a source of DOJ who was not identified.
Pressured to favor Mel Gibson for being “friend of the president”
Elizabeth Oyer reveals in an interview with (NYT) that she was recently placed in a working group in charge of gathering a list of candidates who could have their gun rights restored.
The request to add the name of the actor will have arisen at the last time, after Mel Gibson lawyers have written directly to the high employees of DOJ, defending the restoration of gun possession based on “Special Appointment of the President”And in the fact that it has done“ a series of Great movies and successful“As the lawyer says.
After refusing to recommend the restoration of that right, Elizabeth Oyer assures that she received a telephone call from a senior element of the DOJ, which “He pressed repeatedly” To favor the actor’s claim, “citing the personal relationship near Mel Gibson with Trump.”
“Mel Gibson is a friend of the president and this should be sufficient justification“This senior element said, according to Elizabeth Oyer.
The lawyer regrets that in the 15 -minute conversation, the senior employee became “quickly very aggressive“And that the tone“ approached bullying, ”as NBC News refers to a spokesman for the lawyer.
“Disagreement is being punished”
Elizabeth Oyer did not give in to pressure, and did not include Mel Gibson in his recommendation. It was farewell a few hours later.
“Returning weapons to household aggressors is a serious matterIt is not something I would recommend in a light mood, because there are real consequences arising from the fact that people with a history of domestic violence are in possession of firearms, ”says Elizabeth Oyer in the NYT.
The lawyer also regrets in which “the experienced professionals of the entire department have Fear of expressing your opinions because disagreement is being punished. ”
“Decisions are being made based on Relations and loyaltyand not in facts, specialized knowledge or solid analyzes, which is very alarmingsince what is at stake is our public safety“Adds Elizabeth Oyer.
A DOJ employee who did not want to be identified denies the lawyer’s version. “THE paperwork [de despedimento] It was made before the email of Mel Gibson Be sent, ”says this source in statements to NBC News.
But another source identified as a “high employee” of DOJ notices this television channel that the resignation of Oyer “is part of a very worrying set of movements of staff in the federal government ”and in this department in particular.
This “high official” notes that workers who can act as “verifiers of abuse of power”They are being failed.
