Trump has fired Sally Yates, the acting Attorney General, after her refusal to support the recent refugee ban.
Stating that she “betrayed” the current administration, Trump has ordered Dana Boente, United States attorney to the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve as acting Attorney General until Jeff Sessions, Senator from Alabama, is confirmed as Attorney General, reports the New York Times.
In a statement to Justice Department lawyers, Sally Yates wrote of Trump’s recent immigration order:
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’ decision overruled the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, something the White House administration clearly didn’t take to kindly.
not hard to tell which paragraphs of this statement, from office of the White House press secretary, were dictated directly by the president pic.twitter.com/J8smKVgCYv
— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) January 31, 2017
Trump’s order impacting immigrants and refugees has garnered an outpouring of outrage nationwide since its implementation Friday, from protests at airports around the country over the weekend to rallies in cities such as Seattle today. Additionally, civil liberties and immigration lawyers have been on call at airports nationwide in an attempt to release individuals unfairly detained following the order.
It’s obvious our system of checks and balances is rapidly eroding, for anyone who dares disagree with the Commander-in-Chief is subject to the ax.
Let’s hope our elected officials find the backbone necessary to stand up to the injustices coming out of the White House despite potential personal risk.