Sally Yates, the standing Attorney General until a Trump appointee could be confirmed, was fired on Monday after telling the Department of Justice not to defend Trump's executive order aimed at Muslims and refugees that sparked nationwide protests. Her reason being that she did not believe that the executive order was legal.
Acting Attorney General tells Justice Dept. lawyers not to defend Trump's immigration order, concerned it's not legal. Here is her letter. pic.twitter.com/f6EX7XWCTO
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) January 30, 2017
As soon as her statement was released, speculation began on how long she had left, though her firing wouldn't be without complications for the current administration.
Trump has the authority to fire Yates, but..."she is the only one authorized to sign foreign surveillance warrants" https://t.co/oRe4zim5co
— Vera Bergengruen (@VeraMBergen) January 31, 2017
If Trump White House is of a mind to fire/remove Acting AG Sally Yates, there may temp be noone at DOJ who can sign FISA warrants - big gap!
— Carrie Johnson (@johnson_carrie) January 31, 2017
Many voiced their admiration for Yates for stepping into the line of fire.
This attorney general challenge re: the ban is basically the legal equivalent of a Mario Kart banana peel. Helps buy time.
— Zoe Camp (@jzcamp) January 31, 2017
Sally Yates is a patriot. pic.twitter.com/VikrSXKBBj
— Marika Shaub (@marikatogo) January 31, 2017
Having served w/Sally, she's a public servant of unquestionable integrity,always putting country &Constitution first https://t.co/hjx92GqqsU
— Colin Kahl (@ColinKahl) January 31, 2017
Sally Yates is clearly a Gryffindor. INTEGRITY.
— Ashley Madekwe (@smashleybell) January 31, 2017
Predictably, she was fired, and her replacement was announced by Press Secretary Spicer.
.@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
And while many Trump supporters were pleased to see her go, Yates also had many defenders.
The job of the Attorney General is loyalty to the law, not the President. https://t.co/0UlGvw4zlv
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) January 31, 2017
Yates and all AGs swear to defend the Constitution "against all enemies." That includes POTUS if necessary pic.twitter.com/unbMkCNGpN
— Alice Dreger (@AliceDreger) January 31, 2017
The statement from the White House was... less than eloquent.
Trump's statement on the firing of Yates sounds like a transcription of Trump's probable Oval Office rant tonight https://t.co/Gkx7rXFNYL
— Leon Wolf (@LeonHWolf) January 31, 2017
Others could see a clear comparison.
Sally Yates fired. The last President to fire an Attorney General for political reasons was Nixon.
— Danny Cohen (@DannyCohen) January 31, 2017
Counting seconds till critics compare Trump firing Acting AG to Nixon's Saturday Night Massacre. But Sally Yates worked for Obama
— HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) January 31, 2017
Monday Night Massacre:
— EJ Dionne (@EJDionne) January 31, 2017
Trump fires Sally Yates, Acting AG who refused to defend his indefensible #MuslimBan. History will remember her well.
Trump has switched lawyers who wouldn't argue a shit case before. The fact that it's an acting Attorney General doesn't mean he'll win.
— John Levenstein (@johnlevenstein) January 31, 2017
It was one hell of a way to go out.
"The minute [Sally Yates] gave that order, she knew that her days were numbered -- or her hours were numbered," @Yamiche says of her firing. pic.twitter.com/JUTeMdtuTW
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 31, 2017
Sally Yates is one of the few people in govt actually DOING the right thing. Congress should follow her lead and vote NO on Sessions.
— Amy Odell (@amyodell) January 31, 2017
Someone updated Sally Yates' Wikipedia page pic.twitter.com/BkPynP3h3w
— Tim Perone (@timperone) January 31, 2017
from Distractify http://distractify.com/trending/2017/01/31/sally-yates-fired
0 Comments