Mr. Gibson lost his right to own guns after his conviction in 2011. Federal law prohibits all those with felony convictions, and those with certain domestic violence misdemeanors, from possessing guns.

Liz Oyer was part of a DoJ committee reviewing applications to restore gun rights filed by people who lost them after being convicted of a relevant crime. Speaking to the New York Times, Oyer said she recommended that Gibson’s request be denied due to uncertainty about his conviction, insisting it was about “safety” and not Gibson’s politics.