Trump DOJ Restores Federal Gun Rights to 22 Felons, Including Alleged Fake Elector

The Department of Justice under President Trump published a Federal Register notice restoring federal gun rights to 22 individuals, a move that was announced with little explanation or fanfare and included people with decades-old felony convictions.

“Last month, the Department of Justice quietly published a list of 22 names in the Federal Register”

Michigan Public

NPR reported that "Last month, the Department of Justice quietly published a list of 22 names in the Federal Register. With little explanation or fanfare, the department announced that these individuals had their federal gun rights restored. Most of them had something in common: decades-old felony convictions."

Michigan Public

Michigan Public similarly described the restorations as part of a broader DOJ effort to revive a program dormant for more than three decades that "allows people with certain felony convictions — or even indictments — to regain their gun rights."

The list included one notable outlier: Arizona Republican State Senator Jake Hoffman, who faces a recent indictment related to serving as a fake elector in 2020.

Michigan Public reported that "There was one exception — with a much more recent charge: Republican Arizona State Senator Jake Hoffman, who was indicted in 2024 for being a fake elector in 2020 -– and was one of dozens of people President Trump pardoned in November."

NPR

NPR framed the story succinctly as "The Trump DOJ is giving guns back to felons, including one alleged fake elector," highlighting Hoffman's inclusion as attention-grabbing.

The DOJ defended the restorations by characterising the recipients as mostly convicted of nonviolent offenses many years ago and noted no subsequent charges in the intervening years.

“Trump administration restores indicted Arizona lawmaker's gun rights - The federal government restored firearms rights for Arizona Sen”

USA TODAY

Michigan Public quoted the department: "For most recipients, these nonviolent offenses were their only crimes, and nearly all committed these crimes over 20 years ago, with at least four recipients having committed their crimes over 40 years ago."

The reporting also noted that "No one who received relief has been charged with any additional criminal conduct in the time since their convictions," and both outlets linked the action to legal changes after the Supreme Court's 2022 Bruen decision.

Critics and gun violence prevention advocates raised transparency and public-safety concerns, pointing to scant details about how the DOJ selected recipients and questioning whether political considerations played a role given Hoffman's ties to Trump-related causes.

Michigan Public quoted Kris Brown of Brady United warning that "the lack of transparency could lead to violent offenders getting their guns back," and noted that Hoffman's inclusion prompted questions about whether evaluations were tied to political favours.

Michigan Public

Michigan Public also reported that a donor matching Hoffman's name "gave about $600 in total to various Republican political causes in 2024, including several Trump-aligned political action committees," and NPR covered critics saying the decisions' opaqueness "leave the potential for loopholes and future harm."

The coverage also noted practical limits and next steps: while the federal restorations can restore rights under federal law, state laws could still bar individuals from possessing firearms.

“The Trump DOJ is giving guns back to felons, including one alleged fake elector Last month, the Department of Justice quietly published a list of 22 names in the Federal Register”

NPR

Michigan Public reported that "While the federal government is granting forgiveness through federal law, states can still forbid certain people from getting guns through stricter laws at the local level," and that the DOJ "plans to launch an online application portal. But a year later, no final rule or formal process has been completed."

NPR

NPR added recipient perspectives, noting some who were restored expressed gratitude and plans like hunting.