Former DOJ attorney Elizabeth Oyer alleges senior officials blocked a proposal to bar convicted domestic abusers from a gun-rights restoration program because actor Mel Gibson was a protected case. Documents reviewed by PunchUp quote an associate deputy attorney general saying exclusions were impossible because relief for Gibson was "necessary." Oyer says she was fired in March 2025 after refusing to add Gibson to a vetted list and is now suing the DOJ and Attorney General Todd Blanche. One month after her removal, former AG Pam Bondi approved restoring Gibson's firearm rights.
Ex-DOJ Attorney Says Gun-Rights Plan Was Shaped Around Mel Gibson — She Was Fired, Lawsuit Alleges
Mel Gibson, here during FanExpo Chicago this August, was allegedly top of mind while the DOJ considered whether convicted domestic abusers would be eligible for a program to restore people's gun rights. Daniel Boczarski via Getty Images
A former Department of Justice attorney alleges that senior DOJ officials shaped a gun-rights restoration program around actor Mel Gibson, blocking a proposal to bar convicted domestic abusers from regaining firearm rights. The allegation is part of a complaint filed with the office of the U.S. Pardon Attorney's inspector general and reviewed by PunchUp, a newsletter offshoot of The Daily Beast.
Allegations and Lawsuit
Attorney Elizabeth Oyer says she was explicitly told her proposal to exclude all convicted domestic violence offenders from a firearm-rights restoration program would not be adopted because Gibson — who has a prior domestic-violence-related conviction — was a protected case. Oyer says she was dismissed in March 2025 after refusing orders to place Gibson on a roster of individuals to be thoroughly vetted for potential restoration of firearm rights. She has since sued the DOJ and Attorney General Todd Blanche.
What Documents Say
Associate Deputy Attorney General Paul Perkins is quoted in the complaint as saying domestic violence offenders "could not be excluded" in full because "it was necessary to grant relief to Mel Gibson." Another senior DOJ official reportedly referenced Gibson's "personal relationship" with President Donald Trump.
Timeline and Outcome
According to Oyer's complaint and related documents, officials debated whether domestic violence offenders would be eligible for the separate relief program as early as February 2025, when the policy was being developed. One month after Oyer's removal, former Attorney General Pam Bondi approved restoring Gibson's firearm rights.
Background
Mel Gibson, whom former President Trump named an "ambassador to Hollywood," pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge in March 2011 stemming from a domestic dispute with Oksana Grigorieva. Following that conviction, Gibson had relinquished his right to possess firearms. The complaint and reporting suggest Gibson's status and connections influenced internal DOJ deliberations over who should be eligible for relief.
Broader Reaction
The episode has fed concerns about politicization within the DOJ. More than 1,200 former department employees have urged the Senate to reject Todd Blanche's confirmation, citing a "culture of fear" inside the department. The allegations in Oyer's complaint are now part of a legal and public debate about fairness in pardon and restoration processes.
Note: These are allegations contained in a complaint and related documents reviewed by PunchUp; the department's full response and any outcomes from litigation or internal investigations remain pending.
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