Democratic lawmakers question Justice Department over warning to fired official

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday pressed the U.S. Justice Department to explain its decision to dispatch armed agents to deliver a letter warning a fired employee about her planned testimony before members of Congress.

Three Democrats condemned the move as an attempt to intimidate Liz Oyer, the Justice Department’s former pardon attorney, and other career officials who may want to speak about President Donald Trump’s administration.

“Sending armed officers to Ms. Oyer’s residence is a clear abuse of the Department of Justice’s authority and resources, which exist to serve and protect the public, not intimidate congressional witnesses,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to a top Justice Department official. The letter was signed by Senators Adam Schiff of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey and Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.

A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.

U.S. Marshals were mobilized on April 4 to deliver a letter to Oyer, whom the Trump administration had fired weeks earlier, warning her against revealing information about internal discussions, Oyer said.

Law enforcement was called off only after Oyer acknowledged receiving the letter by email.

The episode came days before Oyer spoke at a Democratic-run hearing examining the Trump administration’s treatment of the legal profession.

Oyer has said she was fired shortly after she declined to recommend restoring gun rights to actor Mel Gibson, a supporter of Trump.

The Justice Department has denied the Gibson dispute was the reason for Oyer’s firing. She was terminated on the same day as several other career Justice Department officials.

The Democrats’ letter seeks the names of the officials involved in the planned deployment of Marshals to Oyer’s home, as well as other records.

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REUTERS