Trump Fires Acting Attorney General Hours After She Refuses to Defend His Muslim Ban
Yates Had Said She Is Not Convinced Trump’s Executive Order Is Lawful
Accusing her of playing politics after she refused to defend his immigration executive order by ordering Justice Department lawyers not to defend the order, President Donald Trump fired Acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Q. Yates Monday evening. Yates was an Obama appointee serving in place until the Senate confirms Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama as Attorney General.
“At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful,†Yates wrote in a letter to the Justice Department’s lawyers.Â
In a statement released by the White House, Trump said that Yates had “betrayed†his administration and indicated he believed Yates was trying to obstruct his agenda for political reasons.Â
.@POTUS has named Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of VA as Acting Attorney General. Sally Yates has been relieved.
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) January 31, 2017
According to the White House, the president appointed Dana J. Boente, United States attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve as acting attorney general.
The New York Times reported:
The extraordinary legal standoff capped a tumultuous day in which the White House confronted an outpouring of dissent over Mr. Trump’s temporary ban on entry visas for people from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, went so far as to warn State Department officials that they should leave their jobs if they did not agree with Mr. Trump’s agenda, after State Department officials circulated a so-called dissent memo on the order.
“These career bureaucrats have a problem with it?†Mr. Spicer said. “They should either get with the program or they can go.â€
Ms. Yates’s decision effectively overruled a finding by the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, which had already approved the executive order “with respect to form and legality.â€
Ms. Yates said her determination in deciding not to defend the order was broader, however, and included questions not only about the order’s lawfulness, but also whether it was a “wise or just†policy. She also alluded to unspecified statements that the White House had made before signing the order, which she factored into her review.
Some responses via Twitter:
Here is a picture of the oath of office @SallyQYates took. Note that she swore allegiance to the Constitution, not Trump pic.twitter.com/gLtRhxzYs5
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) January 31, 2017
Sally Yates is a hero. Career Justice Dept. official just gave up her job to resist Trump. What are you willing to do? https://t.co/9sfRxFI71V
— Greg Pinelo (@gregpinelo) January 30, 2017
The story of the resistance: It is being led by women.
— jasoncherkis (@jasoncherkis) January 31, 2017
Former DOJ spokesman: “This is a major breakdown in the rule of law.” pic.twitter.com/NY6umBAy9g
— Eric Geller (@ericgeller) January 31, 2017
We have been here before: Nixon’s Saturday Night Massacre at Justice Dept. Nixon resigned the next year. @TheLastWord 10pm
— Lawrence O’Donnell (@Lawrence) January 31, 2017
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