During the second day of the confirmation hearing for Todd Blanche, Republican senators questioned the credibility of former Department of Justice pardon attorney Elizabeth Oyer, focusing on her role in the commutation of 37 federal death‑row sentences.
Oyer served as Pardon Attorney from April 2022 until her dismissal in March 2025, a decision the Democratic side described as politically motivated. Republicans countered that her recommendations to commute death sentences undermined her impartiality.
Blanche has not disclosed the exact reason for Oyer’s removal, though she has suggested it stemmed from her refusal to recommend restoring gun rights for actor Mel Gibson. The Department of Justice has denied that this was the cause.
In her opening statement, Oyer cited Blanche’s handling of the Epstein files and the reassignment of Ghislaine Maxwell to a lower‑security facility, arguing that the Justice Department prioritized powerful men over vulnerable women.
Senators Josh Hawley, Eric Schmitt, and Chair Chuck Grassley challenged Oyer over a November memo recommending the commutation of 40 death sentences, 37 of which were ultimately commuted. They noted the memo devoted only three paragraphs to the victims’ families.
Hawley named several high‑profile cases—including Dylan Roof, Robert Bowers, and Jorge Avila‑Torrez—and questioned whether Oyer consulted with the families. Oyer responded by invoking executive privilege and refusing to disclose contact details.
Oyer maintained that all individuals who received clemency would remain incarcerated for the rest of their lives, describing the cases as “horrific.” She emphasized that the inmates would likely serve in maximum‑security facilities.
Senator Cory Booker praised Oyer as a respected private citizen and critic of the Senate’s treatment, describing the questioning as “outrageous” and expressing regret on behalf of the Senate.
