DOJ Official Fired Over Refusal to Restore Mel Gibson’s Gun Rights
In a turn of events that has left many scratching their heads, Elizabeth G. Oyer, a former U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Pardon Attorney, has been unceremoniously booted from her position for refusing to reinstate Mel Gibson’s gun rights. Yes, you heard that right. The man who famously uttered “You can take my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead hands!”—a phrase that echoes through the annals of American gun culture—was apparently in line for a little legal favor, but Oyer wasn’t having any of it.
According to Oyer, who spoke to The New York Times, her dismissal came on the heels of a controversial request to include Gibson on a list of individuals eligible to have their gun rights restored. Gibson, who lost his rights following a 2011 domestic violence conviction, was not just any name on the list; he was the name that sparked a significant ethical dilemma for Oyer. When her superiors insisted she add Gibson to her list of recommendations, she stood her ground, citing safety concerns over political motivations.
In a bizarre twist, Oyer revealed that she received pressure from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s office, which hinted that Gibson’s connections—namely, his ties to Donald Trump and his role as a “special ambassador” to Hollywood—made endorsing his reinstatement a politically savvy move. But Oyer wasn’t swayed by the allure of political maneuvering; she maintained that her decision was rooted in concern for public safety rather than any partisan agenda.
Hours after her refusal, Oyer was confronted by security officers who escorted her from the building with a termination letter in hand. While an unnamed DOJ official claimed her firing was unrelated to the Gibson situation, Oyer remains convinced that her principled stance was the root cause of her abrupt exit.
Gibson’s past is riddled with controversy, including a 2010 DUI arrest and a 2006 incident where he made anti-Semitic remarks to a police officer. These incidents have undoubtedly contributed to the hesitance surrounding the restoration of his gun rights. As Oyer’s story unfolds, it raises critical questions about the intersection of celebrity, politics, and public safety in the ongoing debate over gun rights in America.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and The New York Times, People Magazine, CNN
Image Credit: Title: Untitled, Author: No author info, License: [‘cc_attribute’, ‘cc_nonderived’, ‘cc_publicdomain’]
