An upper official, led by the Office of the Justice Department of the forgiveness lawyer said he was fired from his position one day after refusing to recommend that the access of actor Mel Gibson to firearms be restored, according to a new interview and a statement provided to ABC News on Tuesday.
In an interview with the New York TimesForgiveness lawyer Elizabeth Oyer said that the request to add Gibson’s name to a memorandum of people who should restore their weapons rights occurred at the last minute, after Gibson’s lawyers had written directly to the senior officials of the Department of Justice citing a recent special event he received from President Donald Trump.
After she refused, Oyer said she received a call from a senior official in the deputy office of Attorney General Blanche who pressed her repeatedly to reconsider, citing Gibson’s close personal relationship with Trump.
Mel Gibson attends the Special Preview Projection of Los Angeles of “Monster Summer” in Guild of America Directors on September 24, 2024 in Los Angeles.
Amanda Edwards/Getty images
On Friday, Oyer posted on LinkedIn a Blanche termination letter, which did not include any justification for his dismissal.
“Unfortunately, the professionals experienced throughout the department are afraid to express their opinions because the dissent is being punished,” Oyer said in a statement to ABC News. “Decisions are being made based on relationships and loyalty, not based on facts or experience or sound analysis, which is very alarming since what is at stake is our public safety.”
An official of the Department of Justice, who spoke on anonymity condition, played the Oyer account, which told ABC News that the Gibson arms rights dispute was not a factor in the elimination.
Gibson’s access to Guns is prohibited due to a “no contest” supplication of which he entered a minor crime of mistreating his ex -girlfriend.
The Logo of the Department of Justice is seen before a press conference in the Department of Justice, on August 23, 2024, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Oyer, who directed the forgive lawyer’s office since 2022, told the New York Times that he recently received a working group responsible for gathering a list of candidates who could restore their weapons rights. After gathering a list that then circulated to Blanche’s office, he was ordered to add the name of Gibson, a development that She said It was worrying.
“Giving weapons to domestic abusers is a serious matter that, in my opinion, is not something that I can recommend lightly because there are real consequences that flow from people who have a history of domestic violence in possession of firearms,” said Oyer.
It is not clear if the recommendation will now advance that Oyer has been eliminated. Gibson was remarkably seen this weekend with the director of the FBI Kash Patel attending an UFC fight in Las Vegas.
A Gibson representative did not respond to a request for comments.
