Democratic lawmakers question Justice Department over warning to fired official

23/4/2025 17:11

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.



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.