Corruption at the US Department of Justice – Politics and firings
The New York Times reported that on April 7 Elizabeth G. Oyer, a dismissed US Department of Justice attorney, testified in a hearing in front of Democratic senators and representatives described her firing in the context of corruption. At that hearing there were other attorneys, who also testified to their concerns. Many people can and will say that these comments were made by disgruntled ex- employees. But from my perspective the testimony by the attorneys is evidence of the fact that there is still an open society in the US where opinions can be expressed and the Congress still has an interest in rule of law, even as the Department of Justice tries to stifle dissemination of information.
As Elizabeth G. Oyer, the department’s former pardon attorney, eloquently said “I am here because I will not be bullied into concealing the ongoing corruption and abuse of power at the Department of Justice,” she told Democratic senators and representatives. She had been fired one day after she had refused to endorse the restoration of Mel Gibson’s gun rights following a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.
At the same hearing there were others who testified including an attorney who had resigned after the Adams case, which I referenced earlier as another disappointing action by the Department of Justice. It is good to see that the Democrats in Congress are beginning to bring these issues forward since the Department of Justice should not be politicized and this information should continue to be transparently shared in public fora.
Links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/us/politics/justice-department-pardon-attorney.html
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/08/liz-oyer-mel-gibson-us-marshals