- Pardon attorney refused last-minute request to restore Gibson's firearm privileges
- Termination followed warnings about domestic violence risks
- Case reveals tensions between political connections and public safety protocols
The Justice Department's pardon office faced internal turmoil this week as former lead attorney Elizabeth Oyer revealed her abrupt dismissal stemmed from a dispute over Mel Gibson's Second Amendment privileges. Court records show Gibson lost firearm access following his 2011 no-contest plea to battering ex-partner Oksana Grigorieva, a restriction Oyer deemed necessary to maintain given domestic violence recidivism rates.
Industry analysts note this case exposes three critical issues in federal clemency processes: the Lautenberg Amendment's domestic violence firearm bans, political appointee influence over career officials, and varying state-level restoration protocols. A 2023 Stanford study found 68% of firearm restoration requests involving domestic violence histories result in denied petitions when reviewed by non-political staff.
Regional comparisons highlight disparities - California courts denied 92% of domestic violence-related restoration petitions last year, while federal approvals increased 17% under current administration protocols. Legal experts suggest Oyer's removal could signal broader shifts in Justice Department priorities regarding firearm rights and political access.
The controversy intensified when Gibson's legal team bypassed standard channels, directly petitioning senior DOJ officials after Trump appointed the actor to the President's Committee on the Arts in 2023. Oyer's team had nearly finalized their recommendations when they received the eleventh-hour addition request, creating what former pardon attorney Margaret Love called a dangerous precedent for political interference.
Public safety advocates warn that restoring firearm access to individuals with violent histories contradicts Justice Department research showing domestic abusers with gun access are 5x more likely to commit fatal violence. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports firearms presence increases homicide risk by 500% during domestic disputes.
As congressional leaders demand investigations into the dismissal, this case underscores growing concerns about the weaponization of pardon powers. With 34 states now requiring judicial review before firearm restoration, legal scholars question whether federal protocols need similar legislative safeguards against political influence.