Lindsey Graham - Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Lindsey Graham - Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, alongside other Senate Judiciary Democrats, is questioning the Department of Justice (DOJ) over the dismissal of Liz Oyer, former Pardon Attorney and first public defender to hold the position. The Senators expressed concern about Ms. Oyer's unexplained termination in a letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The letter highlights troubling events that suggest a link between Ms. Oyer's termination and her refusal to restore gun rights for Mel Gibson, a prominent Trump supporter who lost this right after pleading no contest to battering a romantic partner in 2011.
"We write to inquire into the deeply concerning circumstances surrounding Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Todd Blanche’s termination of Pardon Attorney Elizabeth G. Oyer," stated the Senators. They also criticized political pressure from the Deputy Attorney General’s office on Ms. Oyer, noting that she was asked to add Gibson to a list of individuals whose gun rights should be restored despite his history of domestic abuse.
Ms. Oyer reportedly declined this request due to concerns about Gibson's potential reoffending and his lack of thorough investigation compared to other candidates. Following her refusal, she was terminated from her position.
The Senators raised alarms over efforts by the Trump Administration to "weaponize" gun rights restoration for domestic abusers and serious offenders without reviewing individual cases thoroughly. They noted an interim rule issued by Attorney General Bondi that could automate this process, expressing concern over its implications for public safety.
"DOJ’s termination of Ms. Oyer, apparently without justification, is particularly troubling in light of the Trump Administration’s purge of public servants," wrote the Senators, emphasizing their worries about political motivations influencing justice.
In addition to Durbin, signatories include U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, Amy Klobuchar, Chris Coons, Richard Blumenthal, Mazie Hirono, Cory Booker, Alex Padilla, Peter Welch, and Adam Schiff.
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