Mel Gibson’s Gun Rights Battle Reportedly Led To DOJ Attorney’s Firing

Former U.S. Department of Justice Pardon Attorney, Elizabeth G. Oyer, alleges she was fired last week after refusing to reinstate actor Mel Gibson’s gun rights.

Oyer claims she was assigned to a team responsible for reviewing gun rights restorations for convicted individuals.

Among the names on the list was Mel Gibson, who lost his firearm privileges following a 2011 domestic violence conviction.

According to Oyer, who spoke with The New York Times, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s office had compiled a list of nine individuals eligible for restored gun rights. She submitted her draft memo recommending reinstatement for several of them, but two senior Justice Department officials reportedly returned it, instructing her to add Gibson’s name. Oyer pushed back, standing by her decision.

She claims that shortly afterward, she received a call from someone in Blanche’s office, pressuring her to reconsider. When she refused, the pressure intensified. She says officials cited Gibson’s connections to President Donald Trump, his influence as a "special ambassador" to Hollywood, and suggested that granting the reinstatement would be the “smart move.”

Gibson, a vocal conservative and supporter of Donald Trump, lost his gun rights in 2011 following a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction against his ex-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva. Under federal law, individuals convicted of specific offenses face firearm restrictions. As part of a settlement, Gibson pled no contest to the charges, allowing him to avoid jail time.

Despite the mounting pressure, Oyer remained firm. Hours later, she says she returned to her office to find two security officers waiting with a termination letter from Blanche’s office. She was immediately escorted out of the building.

Oyer was not given an official reason for her termination. However, an unnamed Justice Department official denied to The New York Times that the Gibson matter played a role in the decision to fire her.

Oyer emphasized that her decision was not politically motivated but based solely on concerns for public safety.

This news comes shortly after Hollywood veteran Mel Gibson set his sights on Las Vegas as a major hub for blockbuster filmmaking. After directing a Mark Wahlberg-led film shot in Southern Nevada, Gibson is eager to return, possibly for a sequel, or even more large-scale productions.

“Mark Wahlberg is an industrious guy and great to work with. The production experience in Vegas was topnotch,” Gibson shared in a text per Review Journal, a day after attending UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena.

Seated alongside FBI Director Kash Patel and longtime friend and business associate Darin Feinstein, Gibson expressed his enthusiasm for future projects in the city. “I am certain Vegas will accommodate Mark in a big way. I look forward to coming back for big-budget movies.”

Gibson recently directed "Flight Plan," a thriller that filmed some scenes at Mesquite Airport. The film stars Wahlberg as a pilot transporting an Air Marshal, played by Michelle Dockery, and a fugitive, portrayed by Topher Grace, across Alaska. The project aligns with Wahlberg’s ongoing efforts to establish Las Vegas as a major film production hub.

Wahlberg, a Las Vegas resident, has already filmed "Family Plan" in the city and is currently using Las Vegas-area locations for its sequel, "Family Plan 2."

He has also been a vocal advocate for Senate Bill 238, which proposes a 31-acre film studio campus in Summerlin in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery.

The studios are seeking $80 million in tax credits, estimating that the project would create approximately 18,000 industry jobs. The bill is currently under review by the Nevada Legislature.

Although Gibson’s latest trip to Las Vegas wasn’t for film-related business, the "Braveheart" and "Lethal Weapon" star made the most of his visit by attending UFC 313. “It was great to be at UFC with some great Americans,” he said, reinforcing his affinity for the city’s vibrant entertainment scene.