As Twitchy reported, Sally Yates said in a statement Monday that “as long as she was the Acting Attorney General,” the Department of Justice would not present arguments in defense of President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration and refugees.
Yates’ defiance of the executive order didn’t last long, as Press Secretary Sean Spicer quickly announced that she had been relieved of her duties and replaced.
.@POTUS has named Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of VA as Acting Attorney General. Sally Yates has been relieved.
— Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) January 31, 2017
BREAKING: President Trump fires acting Attorney General Yates after she declines to defend his travel ban https://t.co/6OZtrfIwim
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 31, 2017
.@POTUS fires acting AG Sally Yates for "refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens" of US pic.twitter.com/9LOufrREHE
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 31, 2017
"Trump relived Ms. Yates of her duties and subsequently named Dana Boente, …to serve as Acting Attorney General" pic.twitter.com/ff0KXH3bhL
— Anthony DeRosa? (@Anthony) January 31, 2017
References "protecting" the United States 3 times. Trump's EO has nothing to do with national security, other than to assure it is weakened. https://t.co/WJyavjfCJn
— Micah Zenko (@MicahZenko) January 31, 2017
This kind of assault on DOJ's independence has not happened since the Saturday night massacre. The president thinks he is above the law. https://t.co/6TkG3KBYul
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) January 31, 2017
No prouder way to be fired than for standing up for the right thing #SallyYates
— bechamilton (@bechamilton) January 31, 2017
That was … fast.
Okay, we all know Trump has been itching to say "You're fired!" to someone, and Sally Yates just gave him that chance.
— Jonathan H. Adler (@jadler1969) January 31, 2017
Hey the first firing – POTUS Apprentice is off and running. https://t.co/ADo4Nca6hm
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) January 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/EricAPosner/status/826254019798691840
https://twitter.com/EricAPosner/status/826257137659682817
Yep. She pointlessly chose to be a political martyr. Will get cheers from some, but counterproductive at best. https://t.co/OsQO60OgBm
— (((AG))) (@AG_Conservative) January 31, 2017
I still have not seen any lawyer make the case that "I am not convinced" is a proper justification for DOJ to not defend lawsuits.
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) January 31, 2017
This, from @jadler1969, is the key. https://t.co/8TrzZRhxgw pic.twitter.com/enQyxxvRHc
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) January 31, 2017
She could have resigned instead of pulling this stunt & kept moral high ground. Trump left with no choice.
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) January 31, 2017
Don’t feel too sorry for Yates; another position should come along soon where she won’t be so conflicted about actually doing her job.
Sally Yates, acting Attorney General, fired by Trump for being unwilling to defend the travel ban. Yates will forever be a liberal hero.
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) January 31, 2017
How long until Sally Yates gets drafted into the DNC race?
— Liam Donovan (@LPDonovan) January 31, 2017
* * *
Related:
‘Fire her’: Obama-appointed AG orders DOJ not to defend Trump’s immigration E.O. https://t.co/VDQRa6AnNJ
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) January 31, 2017
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