From an AI source: Elizabeth "Liz" Oyer (born December 25, 1978) is an American lawyer and the former United States Pardon Attorney at the Department of Justice, serving from April 2022 to March 2025. A former federal public defender, she was the first person with that background to hold the career-reserved position, where she oversaw clemency applications and recommended over 15,000 pardons and commutations. Oyer was abruptly fired by the Trump administration in March 2025 after refusing to recommend the restoration of gun rights to actor Mel Gibson, a friend of the President. She testified before Congress in April 2025 regarding her termination, which she described as retaliation for maintaining professional integrity against political pressure. Following her dismissal, she became a vocal critic of the Department of Justice’s actions, publishing on Substack and filing a legal challenge against her removal, while receiving the Champion of Justice Award from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in September 2025.