Thank you for such an enlightening interview! It is so tragic that your career endeavors were stolen from you. My heart goes out to all those who have earned a pardon that now will be delayed indefinitely.
Thank you for your service at the DoJ - normal ethical practice in normal times for which you were punished by this amoral administration - and for having the fortitude and bravery to speak truth to power now, at considerable personal risk. I too hope that your actions will encourage others to come forward publicly to expose and challenge the daily injustices committed by this administration; the example you set is exemplary. We see that fighting back is effective, and keeping quiet only enables more egregious insults to our democracy. Keep up the good trouble Lawyer Oyer, we need more spines like yours!
The Trump admin remains relentless in its effort to remove experienced, competent, non-partisan career officials so that they can be replaced by execrable hyper-partisan ignoramuses who will do anything in service of Trump’s cronyism and thugocracy.
Simply compare the measured, thoughtful, law-and-duty-oriented ethos of Liz Oyer and the servile dissembling malignity of Ed Martin, Trump’s choice to replace her.
Martin illustrates what I call Trump’s “purposeful incompetence.”
For Trump, incompetence is a purposeful tactic.
Why else would he nominate Gaetz, Gabbard, RFK jr, Patel, Hegseth, Martin, Habba, Pirro, Bongino, McMahon, Noem, et al?
Incompetence is destructive.
Indeed, incompetence is often more destructive than a more skilled malignity that would operate with greater precision, because incompetence creates chaos, confusion, and uncertainty everywhere.
Instilling fear is the first necessity of authoritarian rule.
A skilled malignity incites fear only in its intended targets, whereas incompetent malignity makes everyone cower, because no one can feel safe from its frequently random effects. Thus, incompetent malignity increases the power of the tyrant and his retinue of corrupt lackeys, from whom everyone must now seek protection or redress from its unpredictable whims.
The people on your team must have been honored to have worked with you. Besides being brilliant, you’re compassionate, yet are also oriented by justice and duty—a rare combination.
I had to laugh when Sam said, “You wouldn’t want your name on that.” Well, no, you wouldn’t. But your “name” was not the point.
The point was that, without regard to the effect on your name, you could not in good conscience help put public safety at risk by conniving in a process that, if accepted as normal and non-political, would make it easier for Mel Gibson and all future violence-prone clemency-seekers to get a gun. Yeah, Gibson got his guns back anyway, but your recommendation would have made it easier for Gibson and for the next ones after him.
Even though you’re paying a price for it, you’ll never regret doing the right thing.
Thanks for sharing your experience. It makes me wonder how many have been silenced.
Thank you for such an enlightening interview! It is so tragic that your career endeavors were stolen from you. My heart goes out to all those who have earned a pardon that now will be delayed indefinitely.
Thank you, Lori.
Thank you for your service at the DoJ - normal ethical practice in normal times for which you were punished by this amoral administration - and for having the fortitude and bravery to speak truth to power now, at considerable personal risk. I too hope that your actions will encourage others to come forward publicly to expose and challenge the daily injustices committed by this administration; the example you set is exemplary. We see that fighting back is effective, and keeping quiet only enables more egregious insults to our democracy. Keep up the good trouble Lawyer Oyer, we need more spines like yours!
Thanks so much!
The Trump admin remains relentless in its effort to remove experienced, competent, non-partisan career officials so that they can be replaced by execrable hyper-partisan ignoramuses who will do anything in service of Trump’s cronyism and thugocracy.
Simply compare the measured, thoughtful, law-and-duty-oriented ethos of Liz Oyer and the servile dissembling malignity of Ed Martin, Trump’s choice to replace her.
https://www.propublica.org/article/ed-martin-trump-interim-dc-us-attorney-secret-judge-attacks
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/ed-martin-jan-6-trump-weaponization-support-militia-1235340815/
https://www.thefire.org/news/us-attorney-ed-martins-bully-tactics-have-no-place-america
Martin illustrates what I call Trump’s “purposeful incompetence.”
For Trump, incompetence is a purposeful tactic.
Why else would he nominate Gaetz, Gabbard, RFK jr, Patel, Hegseth, Martin, Habba, Pirro, Bongino, McMahon, Noem, et al?
Incompetence is destructive.
Indeed, incompetence is often more destructive than a more skilled malignity that would operate with greater precision, because incompetence creates chaos, confusion, and uncertainty everywhere.
Instilling fear is the first necessity of authoritarian rule.
A skilled malignity incites fear only in its intended targets, whereas incompetent malignity makes everyone cower, because no one can feel safe from its frequently random effects. Thus, incompetent malignity increases the power of the tyrant and his retinue of corrupt lackeys, from whom everyone must now seek protection or redress from its unpredictable whims.
Good thing they don’t have to worry about you testifying before Congress. https://www.schiff.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250407-Liz-Oyer-Hearing-Statement-4.7.25.pdf
The people on your team must have been honored to have worked with you. Besides being brilliant, you’re compassionate, yet are also oriented by justice and duty—a rare combination.
I had to laugh when Sam said, “You wouldn’t want your name on that.” Well, no, you wouldn’t. But your “name” was not the point.
The point was that, without regard to the effect on your name, you could not in good conscience help put public safety at risk by conniving in a process that, if accepted as normal and non-political, would make it easier for Mel Gibson and all future violence-prone clemency-seekers to get a gun. Yeah, Gibson got his guns back anyway, but your recommendation would have made it easier for Gibson and for the next ones after him.
Even though you’re paying a price for it, you’ll never regret doing the right thing.
Thank you!