US President Donald Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates on Monday night for “refusing to enforce a legal order [immigration ban] designed to protect the citizens of the United States,” the White House said.
“[Yates] has betrayed the Department of Justice,” the White House statement continued.
Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, was sworn in to fill the void created by Yates’ dismissal. A few hours later, Boente issued a statement instructing DoJ lawyers to “defend the lawful orders of our President.”
Trump didn’t call Yates to dismiss her, she was informed by hand-delivered letter, according to CNN.
Earlier, Yates told DoJ lawyers not to make legal arguments defending Trump’s executive order on immigration and refugees.
The move set up a clash between the White House and Yates, who was appointed by ex-President Barack Obama and was set to serve until Senator Jeff Sessions, Trump’s nominee for AG, is confirmed.
“STAND FOR WHAT IS RIGHT”
“My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts,” Yates said in a letter.
“In addition, I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institution’s solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right.”
7 MUSLIM-MAJORITY COUNTRIES
Trump’s executive order, signed on Friday, bars citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US for the next 90 days, suspends the admission of all refugees for 120 days and indefinitely suspends the Syrian refugee programme.
The seven countries are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Yates’ decision came amid a flood of protests against the executive order nationwide and after four federal judges ruled against Trump’s order.
‘OBSTRUCTION’
Trump tweeted his response shortly after the news broke, saying Democrats have stymied Sessions’ confirmation, enabling Yates.
“The Democrats are delaying my cabinet picks for purely political reasons. They have nothing going but to obstruct. Now have an Obama A.G.,” he tweeted.
“At present, I am not convinced that the defence of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful,” Yates said prior to her dismissal.
Yates’ decision was always likely to be extremely short-lived as Sessions is scheduled for a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
Source: CNN
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