President Trump has fired the acting US attorney general subsequent to her challenging his controversial immigration ban.
Sally Yates was appointed by Barack Obama, but has now been branded a traitor by the Trump administration for questioning the legality of Trump’s executive order.
The order temporarily bans nationals of seven heavily Muslim countries from entering the US.
Ms Yates published a bold letter in which she expressed her concerns:
‘My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts.
‘In addition, I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institution’s solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right.
‘At present, I am not convinced that the defence of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful.
‘Consequently, as long as I am the acting attorney general, the department of justice will not present arguments in defence of the executive order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so.’
Hours later, Trump ‘relieved Ms Yates of her duties’, accusing her of ‘betraying’ the justice system as well as being ‘weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration’.
Her replacement, Mr Boente, is another appointee of Obama’s. He will only remain acting attorney general until Trump’s nominee, Jeff Sessions, achieves confirmation subsequent to a hearing later this week.
Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer has publicly supported Yates’ actions and described the letter as ‘a profile in courage… a brave act and a right act’.
Similarly, Rep John Coyners has expressed criticism of her firing: ‘If dedicated public officials deem directives to be unlawful and unconstitutional, he will simply fire them as if government is a reality show.’
Yates is not alone in her objections against Trump’s immigration ban; people are taking to the streets worldwide in protest and hundreds of diplomats and foreign servants have drafted a ‘dissent cable’, criticising the order.
The White House has responded Trump-style to this draft cable by merely stating that diplomats better ‘get with the programme’.
Even Obama has broken his silence on the matter. Despite not directly mentioning Trump by name, he expressed how he is ‘heartened’ by protests on the matter.
‘Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organise and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake.’
Sally Yates isn’t the first casualty of Trump’s bulldozing and certainly won’t be the last; tension builds as the world watches this unbelievable presidency unfold.