Trump fires acting Attorney General who defied immigration ban
ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Donald Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates after she ordered Justice Department lawyers to stop defending refugee ban.
President Donald Trump fired the nation’s acting attorney general as the repercussions from his executive order banning some immigrant travel continue to shake his administration.
Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates, an Obama administration holdover, after she said in a message to staff today that the president’s order was not consistent with the Justice Department’s “solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right.” She added that, “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.”
White House spokesman Sean Spicer said in a statement tonight announcing her dismissal that Yates had “betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.” Trump had shot back at Yates’s message earlier, saying on Twitter that frustrated Democrats were obstructing his Cabinet picks and that they “now have an Obama A.G.,” a reference to Yates.
The Trump administration named Dana Boente, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to replace Yates as acting attorney general, according to the statement. Also an Obama appointee, Boente’s office handled prosecutions including the corruption case against former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell, a Republican whose conviction was thrown out last year.
Waiting for confirmation
As the deputy attorney general under former President Barack Obama, the 56-year-old Yates had been asked to stay on by the Trump team while his nominee for the top Justice Department post, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, moves through the confirmation process. The Judiciary Committee is scheduled to debate and vote on Sessions’s candidacy Tuesday.
The unusual public defiance by Yates, who would have been expected to leave the Justice Department when Sessions is confirmed, was the latest twist in a controversy that has sparked protests at airports across the country and seen many congressional Republicans break from the White House over Trump’s move to ban travel by people from seven Muslim-majority nations. Her statement lent the authority of her office to several legal challenges under way against the order across the country.
“For as long as I am the acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the executive order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so,” Yates said in her statement, released hours before she was fired.
‘Politicized’ legal system
Stephen Miller, a White House senior adviser who helped write the Trump administration order, said on MSNBC today evening that Yates’s statement was “a further demonstration of how politicized our legal system has become.” He said the president has “the absolute right” under immigration law to exclude any class of visitors from entering the country.
“The president has that authority,” Miller said. “It’s been delegated by Congress.”
Trump’s order temporarily barred entry for people from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Libya, tripping up people who were already legal residents of the U.S. or visa holders, and suspended refugee immigration programs.
Controversy also erupted at the State Department last week, where several veteran career officials stepped down as Trump moves to put his stamp on U.S. foreign policy. Other foreign service officers then began circulating a draft of a so-called dissent memo criticizing Trump’s immigration executive order after it was issued on Friday.
Boente was sworn in about 9 p.m., shortly before the firing was announced, said White House spokesman Michael Short.
“I am honored to serve President Trump in this role until Senator Sessions is confirmed,” Boente said in a statement released by the White House. “I will defend and enforce the laws of our country to ensure that our people and our nation are protected.”
Capitol Hill
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly is planning to head to Capitol Hill Tuesday to meet privately with top House and Senate leaders, including Republicans and Democrats from key committees, according to two congressional aides. The exact timing for the meeting is still uncertain, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Speaker Paul Ryan were among those trying to make time to attend, according to aides.
Others invited to attend are Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and the top two Democrats in the House, Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer, as well as House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Some committee chairmen and ranking Democrats, including those on the Homeland Security, Judiciary, Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Appropriations panels, are also invited.
A Republican congressional aide said the House Homeland Security Committee wasn’t consulted on the executive order, and an aide to a Republican House Judiciary Committee member said he wasn’t aware of any committee members or staffers being consulted. On Sunday, a senior leadership aide said congressional leaders had no role in drafting the order.
‘Few Problems’
The administration said the executive order had been carefully crafted and well implemented. Trump, in a tweet, said Kelly “said that all is going well with very few problems.”
But there were many reports of immigrants denied entry at U.S. airports or stuck at airports overseas, and advocacy groups alleged that customs agents were defying court orders to let people into the country.
“They understand that this was not handled in the most productive manner,” Senator Bob Corker, the Tennessee Republican who’s chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters. Corker said he wasn’t briefed before the order landed, and said he hopes there’s more communication and an inter-agency process next time for something thus far-reaching.
“My guess is they’re going to try to clean it up,” Corker said.
Representative Charlie Dent, a Pennsylvania Republican, called for the order to be pulled back.
‘Overly Rushed’
“This was overly broad, overly rushed and implemented in a haphazard manner,” he said.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who ran against Trump for the Republican nomination, said he had been trying to get more information about the orders but that State Department officials told his staff that they had been ordered not to talk to Congress.
“There is no doubt” that multiple committees will be asking administration officials to explain the policy, he said.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, whose control over all legislation spending federal money makes him a key figure in Congress, warned of a potential investigation of the disruption in enacting the order.
“This weekend’s confusion is an indication that the details of this executive order were not properly scrutinized,” the New Jersey Republican said in a statement. “Congress has important oversight responsibilities over all executive orders, which we intend to exercise.”
109 responses to “Trump fires acting Attorney General who defied immigration ban”
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“you’re fired!”
Yes, just like a bad reality show. What a comfort.
If only it was a reality show, and not reality.
if you disagree with your boss – find another job. hope she is qualified…The USA was in sad shape when she was employed – no wonder Hillary was never prosecuted…
What a novel idea…firing someone for not doing their job!
Drain Da Swamp!
Trump may be gone before his 4 years are up. His inability to work with Congress and the federal bureaucracy bodes ill for his ability to operate effectively. The illegality issues are daunting. Some of this may be his inexperience but much of it flows from his pathological and tyrannical, authoritarian nature.
give us the facts instead of spewing your political views, TheDonald been in office for 11 days or so and your already saying things that may be untrue. Typical of Democrats and Liberals crying and spewing LIES, even Yates stated it may be illegal but… . It ain’t till it’s proven
Give me name of a 1st term President that had experience leading the Country? That’s why the POTUS has advisors, lawyers, etc.
TheDonald’s running our Country like a business man, not afraid to push his promises unto others to do the job! That’s what a business owner does, they have the vision and you hire people to get your job done. He’s not your fly-by-night business owner trying to keep his head above water to survive, he’s trying to revamp our Country in a new direction, America 1st.
US citizen Jobs, Safety, etc. 1st and everything will fall into place once people get jobs and off Gov. handouts which creates tax revenue’s, consumer spending, etc.. Unemployment creates no wage tax revenue but could create sales tax revenue, but then again that unemployed consumer spent Gov. money to pay for the sales tax. LOSE MONEY. What kind of a return is that? The Gov. handout money and in return gets only a small part of that back? You run a business li dat and you’d go bankrupt! Tink people
@ Pocho
Agree. Great points!
You just blew allie out of her canoe!
He’s an executive, not a community organizer. He makes decisions in order to accomplish goals. You’ll get used to it as you see the results. This is actually how things get done, rather than the constipation we have come know as “Washington.” The executive branch is supposed to work this way.
Bammm, just like that , the Trash has been taken out..
Wait, did he resign already?
Simpleton..
yup, Donnie “Simpleton” Trump & minions rushed this XO out on a Friday afternoon based on their “alternative facts”.
no formal process whatsoever.
suprised he didn’t issue it via twitter & forego the signature on paper.
He will be impeached. Moron.
Nan That’s what they said about Ronald Regan, look it up.
What are you talking about NB? The republicans have a firm control over the house. Do you honestly believe they will impeach him, like they did to Bill “the perv” Clinton?
Libertards/Democrats can do not wrong, they blame everything and everyone but themselves. They are talking pieces trying to get elected or keeping their seat in Government.
Trump is not in any way a legitimate president. He is a showman. Illegality may lead to impeachment.
hmm, Who’s our POTUS? today: that’s the last I know what or the word means:
le·git·i·mate
adjective
adjective: legitimate
ləˈjidəmət/
1.
conforming to the law or to rules.
“his claims to legitimate authority”
synonyms: legal, lawful, licit, legalized, authorized, permitted, permissible, allowable, allowed, admissible, sanctioned, approved, licensed, statutory, constitutional;
TheDonald won the POTUS election fair and square, where in the Laws of Our Land says he’s not a legitimate President? Or where’s the Lawsuits contending his illegitimacy of the election? Stop spewing Libartarded Lies!
Blame you Democratic/Liberal Parties for the loss, acknowledge the mistakes to get ready to put up another candidate in 4 years.
no, no no! He will not leave the WH until 2020. Too bad he can only serve 2 terms really like his style and drive. The POTUS is GOING TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN with or without all of you. If you don’t like it leave like the Bollywood clowns and don’t come back. After little over a week in office and you all want to give him the doom and gloom treatment. Wow what little tolerance you people have. I say shame on you for being an UNamerican.
SA should have Advertiser 1 AND Advertiser 2.
Ad1 can give his comments based on the current liberal side, and,
Ad2 can give his views from the conservative side.
This way both points of view can be given without sounding one-sided like it currently is.
Plenty tilapia in the swamp left.
King Trump… America’s despot!
Another lib bites the dust.
Comment on this one?
http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/01/30/breaking-news/veterans-protest-travel-ban-saying-it-hurts-interpreters/
I will. There have numerous cases of Iraqi and Afghanistan interpreters and others working with or for the U.S. military turning their weapons on the Americans. We cannot have blind trust in them just because they were interpreters or did other work for Americans. The actions of a few justifies the need to carefully and thoroughly vet all of them before being allowed to enter the country.
Remember this guy…https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Fort_Hood_shooting
SA should have Advertiser 1 AND Advertiser 2.
Ad1 can give his comments based on the current liberal side, and,
Ad2 can give his views from the conservative side.
This way both points of view can be given without sounding one-sided like it currently is.
the transition…
to a dictatorship…
is not proceeding as smoothly as Vladimir Trump had hoped
2nd weekend in a row worldwide protest crowds > than DJT inauguration crowds
<3
More like a transition to “no nonsense” governing policy. Re: Change does not guarantee smooth sailing, on the contrary it requires the ability to “adapt and improvise (or move forward)”. Many can, but refuse to embrace change. Yes, it upsets their homeostasis (“the tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements” and are cognizant of this imbalance. However they continue to dig their heel in and fight it. Sad…
Donald please fire yellen
Don’t wait for her to f#ck you over……she can’t be trusted
sarge22…no worry…Yellen is a non-player and even if she attempted to mess with what may affect the American economy and us…he’ll fire her. 🙂
what do all you maga-its do when you aren’t circle jerking here on the SA comment pages?
flinging our efforts in your face. don’t worry, cholo had some horchata earlier so you’d enjoy the taste.
TRUMPette: The media lies! Trump only tells the truth! It’s Hillary that lies! Let’s talk about Hillary instead!
She is an excellent example of a civil servant who met her oath of office to defend the constitution against all enemies.
dummy who you think we are trying to keep out???????
crawl back under your rock. you’ll be safe there.
Kukuinunu, well said. Sally Yates is an American hero.
She’s a left-over Democrat appointee who should have resigned.
The Twump administration asked Yates to stay while they await Sessions’ confirmation. Get your facts straight.
bumbai – Trump appointed Ms. Yates Acting Attorney General. It was his choice.
It might help to stop lying. If that’s even possible for you.
She a Libertard! It’s a political stunt on her part knowing she’d be replaced soon. She shoulda kept quiet and put Trump’s agenda on the back burner. No strategy like all Libertards , no wonder ISIS is still a JV team to be reckoned with
Ms. Yates is a holdover acting AG until either Sen. session is confirmed. The democrats have legally dragged his confirmation process as a last ditch effort to get maximum media coverage on the suitability of a veteran Senator from Alabama. The acting AG was holdover appointee of Obama and expected to resign as former boss did. She did what was expected of her, cast doubt on the incoming administration?
Good riddance.
An American hero? Have you been inhaling the medical marijuana?
Howzit, BuhByeAloha. I wish.
A Legend…in her own mind…wait a minute… 🙂
Anti-American hero.
Nonsense. Government workers take oaths to support and defend the Constitution, but they do not get to decide which laws are constitutional and which are not. That is the responsibility of the judicial branch of government. Executive Orders have the effect of law and must be followed unless or until they are determined to be unconstitutional by the judiciary. As long as an EO is in effect, government workers have three choices – follow the EO, resign or be fired. Trump did the right thing.
Ronin. Like the name. Good call and super accurate. Yates deserved to get the good ole heave ho by POTUS. Many others waiting to get the same from POTUS if the “act up.” Need to DTS and MAGA.
Just the start, How many more will be fired, swamp will soon have no water left to drain.
Drain the swamp and you’ll have the bottom dwellers left. Flopping monsters covered in yuk. Grotesque bottom of the barrel rejects. Oh like DC is now.
NanakuliBoss, best come back I’ve seen today. LMAO!
It would be nice if he could ax some senators.
Remember…term limits law coming soon 🙂 Can that be applied locally? 🙂
wn – Term limits are not coming. Trump cannot make that happen.
Reminds me of Regan firing the air traffic controllers who defied him and the law. Layer down a marker for everyone else.
Exactly! Regan ruffled a lot of feathers when he was President. He, like Trump got things done!
Right. Reagan granted amnesty to millions of “illegal immigrants”. Decisive leadership.
I believe those who opposed this firing were not around when Reagan fired the air traffic controllers. I remember it very well. When it happened I was pleasantly surprise and admired the guts it took to take on this group of
$$$ civil employees. What follow were some great years of economic growth and for those who did not manage their 401K funds properly…they missed the opportunity of early retirement, funding children’s education, etc. Life was and is good! 🙂
Humn funny it says your quote was posted January 30, 2017 at 9:06 pm
57% of Americans support Trumps EO. These people were separated from their family for a few hours, not years. American safety first. I don’t think a 90 ban will kill anyone.
@ nalogirl
Too much common sense for the left to comprehend. Also the left not used to the fact that a POTUS first responsibility is to PROTECT America & Americans!
#MASA
Ke go hand,when you cancelling your subscription from the lame lopsided SA? GO DO IT! Take all the crybabies like sarge and nalo with you.
Who’s crying now? All the HiLIARy lover losers. Get over it. President Trump is on the job correcting the mistakes made during the last eight years.
@ Nanahuli Peon
I’m not feeling the love…weeeeeeeee weeeeeeeee
clearly the 57% is another one of your alt-facts
Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates, the first hero in the war to oust King Trump. The number of heroes will mount as the war escalates.
Kimo> My goodness you sure are out of touch. You called a “terminal” leftover, liberal loser the first hero in the war against POTUS? MY, my, my, what did you ever learn in school? Did you go to school the learn or just at lunch? My, my, my. If she is a hero to you, what kind of loser will be your next hero. She deserves the firing squad for being insubordinate and traitorous to the people of America and the country. Our safety comes first and foremost before your political endeavors and dreams. Realize what is important to you and your loved ones, not making a traitor a “hero.” Disgusting!!!!!!!
And this is how DJT rules: “disagree with me and you’re fired.”
The old Obama appointees that didn’t have the grace to resign are just sticking around to sabotage Trump…they will get pruned out in short order.
Again. The Twump administration asked Yates to stay on until Sessions is confirmed … if ever.
Not disagree, defy the commander in chief. Its expected of all federal government employees to follow the President’s agenda, if you disagree, quit!
She did resign — she knew she would be fired — because (1) the Twumpers didn’t consult her or most everyone in the state department — before rushing this EO, and (2) because she knew she couldn’t defend the “unconstitutional” EO.
I think Twump had good intentions, but the execution was poor and done in haste.
I am confused. Did she resign or was she fired?
According the the NY Times,
President Trump fired his acting attorney general on Monday night, removing her as the nation’s top law enforcement officer after she defiantly refused to defend his executive order closing the nation’s borders to refugees and people from predominantly Muslim countries.
@ kiragirl
scuddrunner is correct…she got fired.
roadrunner getting info from the infamous CNN/MSNBC/FAKEnews….sad.
Looks like my comment went over a few heads, including johnny riceball’s. Oh, Yates was fired, and justifiably so, but she knew she would be dismissed by stating her case and defying orders to defend a ban she sees as unconstitutional and indefensible. So, in effect, she left on her own accord and let the president know why. Good on her.
@ softrider
Very average impersonation of josh ernest at best…keep your day job snowflake.
@johnny riceball: I’ll keep my day job if you promise to find one.
@ nalogirl
Agree!
Ditto! 🙂
You are wrong, Numilalocal. Executive Orders have the effect of law and must be followed unless or until they determined to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Courts. Judges of lower courts may rule an EO is unconstitutional and order temporary stays in the implementation, but inevitable appeals by the administration in power ultimate will result in the Supreme Court being the final arbiter. As long as an EO is in effect, government officials have three choices – follow the EO, resign or be fired. Good job, Trump.
Numi> That’s how it should be. POTUS is not going to dilly dally around to get consensus. He is a man of action and that’s what this country needs, and needed for 8 years. Love the “YOU’RE FIRED.” I laughed so much my stomach hurt. Good riddance to another obstructionist.
You’re Fired. Love it
The Libs were only too happy when Holder and obama were running roughshod over the rest of us who disagreed with their “Pick and Choose” style of enforcing the law. I voted for Trump to put an end to the garbage of promoting the interests of those who do NOT have the right to be here over the interests of we rightful citizens. The antics of the Libs are just more “Sore Loser” tantrums that are normally expected of 2 year old spoiled brats who didn’t get their way. Their true colors are on shameful display daily.
As a former moderate Democrat, the liberal left just went too far…over the cliff and I had to make a decision to leave the party. The current liberal left became a throw back to the late 60’s and into the 70’s. Happy I left the party, now I vote for whomever I believe is best for the USA which, less we forget, includes Hawaii Nei. 🙂
In my opinion, Yates opted to make her political statement, however…“betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.”. Hence, justified termination of employment. I know it can be difficult for some to wrap their minds around being fired (i.e. civil service employees). In the private sector you can be terminated for insubordination and even “without cause” as outlined in your employment agreement. However, for the most part, if you conduct yourself properly you should never have to cross that path. If unjustly terminated you can file a complaint with the EEOC or Civil Rights Commission (if civil rights have been violated) and post investigation seek civil action. Just saying…
Precisely.
I second.
You are wrong if you are suggesting that Yates can file a complaint with the EEOC or Civil Rights Commission. She was not a civil service employee protected by hundreds of civil service laws and regulations. She was a political appointee who served at the pleasure of the President. There is no appeal process for political appointees.
Dis buggah no no what he doing!
Spotted at one of the airport protests was a sign that read: “2/3 of Trump’s wives were immigrants, proving once again that the U.S. needs immigrants to do the jobs that most Americans won’t do.” Forget the politics; that was hilarious. Hope POTUS has a sense of humor.
NO TRUMP
NO WAY
NO FASCIST USA
John Dean, the former White House counsel to Richard Nixon predicted, “The way the Trump presidency is beginning it is safe to say it will end in calamity. It is almost a certainty. Even Republicans know this!”
John Dean …the one called “master manipulator” of the Watergate cover up who later flipped on his co-conspirators by trying to minimize his own involvement…That John Dean?
The same John Dean, the one who speaks from experience about Republican administrations that think they’re above the law and that Constitutional compliance is optional.
Of course he speaks from experience, he’s the person who tried to cover up the dirty deeds then played ‘Let’s Make A Deal’ with the feds. What a weasel.
Good.
Don’t follow your boss’s instructions, why shouldn’t anyone be fired.
The Atty-Genl services at the president’s pleasure folks !
Get over it !!
This is exactly what I mentioned about “Residual Saboteurs”. There are many more people,like Interim AG Sally Yates and other officials who are still looming in the WH remaining loyal to Obama and his agendas . BIG MISTAKE! President Trump said he would “Drain The Swamp”, well guess what? These people are part of that Swamp.
I urge Our POTUS don’t try to be a Mr Nice Guy, (as GW did) with these Residual Saboteurs ,the Libs are entrenched in this idiocy of destroying President Trump. They will not hesitate to derail any order or policies.
Now why didn’t Obama’s AG or Sally Yates for that matter react also to his “Over Reaching”executive orders?
I say to the President,I applaud him for firing act AG Sally Yates,this is his right as POTUS,but remember you still need to continue……..Draing the Swamp.
Agree.
Former AG Sally Yates is NOT surprised by the firing. She’s a smart woman and this was her plan all along…make a political statement as she was being given the boot. She’s now the newest darling shero of the left and is probably getting Multiple offers from private firms. Multiple. Don’t count her out. We may see her running for office in the future. Maybe even head the DNC or be hired by the DNC to take care of their legal work.
tita girl> Although yates had preordained her plan to not follow the EO, she disregarded her sworn oath to uphold the law and do her job..by lying and directing the JD to not enforce the provisions of the EO, she failed in her responsibility to do her sworn duty. The “YOU’RE FIRED” was not and adequate nor appropriate punishment for her insubordination to the POTUS and to the people of America. She should be beheaded by an Islamic Radical Terrorist. She is in no way to be looked upon as a “hero” since she failed to protect you and me. No liberal slap on the wrist for what she knowingly did will suffice in this case.