Trump has fired the acting attorney general who ordered Justice Dept. not to defend president's travel ban
By Matt Zapotosky, Sari Horwitz and Mark Berman January 30 at 9:28 PM
President Trump defended his executive order on Twitter, writing that there is ?nothing nice about searching for terrorists before they can enter our country.? (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
President Trump fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates Monday night, after Yates ordered Justice Department lawyers Monday not to defend his immigration order temporarily banning entry into the United States for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees from around the world.
In a press release, the White House said Yates had ?betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.?
The White House has named Dana Boente, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, as acting attorney general. Boente told The Washington Post that he will agree to enforce the immigration order.
Earlier on Monday, Yates ordered Justice Department not to defend President Trump?s immigration order temporarily banning entry into the United States for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees from around the world, declaring in a memo that she is not convinced the order is lawful.
Yates wrote that, as the leader of the Justice Department, she must ensure that the department?s position is ?legally defensible? and ?consistent with this institution?s solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right.?
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...c_story.html?tid=ss_fb&utm_term=.7bbc9ee68c98
By Matt Zapotosky, Sari Horwitz and Mark Berman January 30 at 9:28 PM
President Trump defended his executive order on Twitter, writing that there is ?nothing nice about searching for terrorists before they can enter our country.? (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
President Trump fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates Monday night, after Yates ordered Justice Department lawyers Monday not to defend his immigration order temporarily banning entry into the United States for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees from around the world.
In a press release, the White House said Yates had ?betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.?
The White House has named Dana Boente, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, as acting attorney general. Boente told The Washington Post that he will agree to enforce the immigration order.
Earlier on Monday, Yates ordered Justice Department not to defend President Trump?s immigration order temporarily banning entry into the United States for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees from around the world, declaring in a memo that she is not convinced the order is lawful.
Yates wrote that, as the leader of the Justice Department, she must ensure that the department?s position is ?legally defensible? and ?consistent with this institution?s solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right.?
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...c_story.html?tid=ss_fb&utm_term=.7bbc9ee68c98
