Justice Department seeks to restrict testimony of fired pardon attorney

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is attempting to use executive privilege to prevent its fired pardon attorney from telling Congress about the circumstances of her departure, and dispatched armed deputy U.S. marshals to her home to deliver restrictions on her testimony, according to letters made public on Monday.

Liz Oyer, who has said she was fired as the department’s pardon attorney last month after refusing a request to recommend that actor Mel Gibson’s gun rights be restored, is among several witnesses invited to appear Monday before a joint hearing of House and Senate lawmakers.

The hearing, which among other witnesses is to feature a former public corruption prosecutor who resigned under protest amid the Justice Department’s dismissal of its case against New York Mayor Eric Adams, will represent the first time in the new Trump administration that newly departed Justice Department lawyers have spoken publicly before Congress about the circumstances of their departures and their concerns with leadership of the federal law enforcement agency.

Ahead of the hearing, the Justice Department warned Oyer that any testimony about deliberations concerning the pardon process and the restoration of gun rights would run afoul of executive privilege, a legal principle that broadly refers to a president’s power to keep information from the courts, Congress and the public to protect the confidentiality of presidential decision-making.

-snip-

By ERIC TUCKER and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER
Updated 1:02 PM EDT, April 7, 2025


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-mel-gibson-congress-667a79b368b215bb0cd7b0333f372fc7

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Earlier DU thread: US Justice Dept mobilized armed Marshals to warn ex-DOJ lawyer Liz Oyer over congressional testimony, letter shows

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. trump and Bondi are scared of the truth coming out

[BoRaGard]

2. Fuggun plug-ugly G.O.P. fascism doing its damndest to squelch truth

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Hiding the truth is Obstruction

[Leghorn21]

4. Thanks Eugene, this is the fkn worst thing this lawless pack of pigs has done yet, far as I'm concerned

This is really really B A D

[sinkingfeeling]

5. "Laws for thee, but not for me" is the motto of TSF's mal-administration. Also, use of the courts.

[bluestarone]

6. We are getting very close to a Constitutional Crisis here.

These mother fuckers!!

[slightlv]

13. I think we hit that line more than a few months (and events) back...

the problem is, no one knows what to do about it. A Constitutional Convention is not needed, but is probably what is necessary. At this point, the R's and trump would strip all rights and privileges from the constitution and declare themselves as "King" and consorts!

What else CAN happen as the next step? The courts are proving to be ineffective, as verdict after verdict against the orange menace comes down, and the admin ignores each and everyone of them... usually with some aggressive, snobbish remark in retort. I wish I knew how he could be stopped! That is, other than the 2nd Amendment remedies they're always talking about delivering to us!

[moonshinegnomie]

7. how can they block an ex employee

and whats to stop that employee from answering question outside of congress if a democratic congressman were to ask them at for example a town hall.....

[bluestarone]

9. EXACTLY. This person is

Just an ordinary citizen now. WTF?

[marked50]

15. My layman's opinion says that they(DOJ and Rump) can't use Executive Privlege here. She is not part of DOJ anymore.-n/t

[mahatmakanejeeves]

8. Snitches get stitches. NT

[bluestarone]

10. SHIT HEAD Bondi needs to be called before this judge to explain WHY?

Then put her in jail until that person is returned to America.

[bluestarone]

11. I'm sure roberts will jump right on this too!!

Jesus fucking Christ!!

[JoseBalow]

12. Nothing fascist about this at all

[GiqueCee]

14. These people are worse than monsters...

... they are the embodiment of pure, malignant evil. They have no conscience, no honor, and no concept of basic human decency. Satan must be SO proud of Republicans.
We will never rid the world of evil people, but we can make them think twice about ever trying something as vile as this ever again. No one responsible for implementing Project 2025, and no one in the Trump regime should EVER see the light of day again, so horrific is their treason.

Now all we have to do is find someone with the courage and wherewithal to do it.