You can’t write this. Hell, I couldn’t even conjure it.
First, President Trump signed an executive action last Friday which suspended indefinitely the importation of refugees from Syria. The order also included a 90 to 120-day stay on immigration from seven countries, to include Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Iran, Iraq and Syria. This action has precedent; Barack Obama did so in 2011 and 2015.
On Monday, the first business day following the signing of Trump’s EO, acting Attorney General Sally Yates — a Democrat appointed by Barack Obama — sent a letter to officials in the department laying out her orders not to defend President Trump’s executive order on immigration and refugees in court.
Now, on late Monday, another update, from the WashingtonTimes.com:
Trump fires acting Attorney General Sally Yates
by Stephen Dinan
President Trump on Monday ousted the acting attorney general, an Obama holdover, and installed a pick of his own choice, capping off a dramatic day as he moved to shore up the defense of his extreme vetting executive order.
Mr. Trump relieved Sally Q. Yates, the deputy attorney general who had stepped into the role as the government’s top lawyer at the change of administrations, after she issued a stunning letter saying she refused to defend the executive order. In her place, Mr. Trump named Dana Boente, a federal prosecutor.
The White House said Ms. Yates “betrayed” the department by refusing to enforce a legal order.
“Ms. Yates is an Obama administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration,” the White House said. “It is time to get serious about protecting our country. Calling for tougher vetting for individuals traveling from seven dangerous places is not extreme. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country.”
In her letter to her department Ms. Yates said that even though the department had approved the order as lawful, she disagreed. She said it broke with her duty to “seek justice and stand for what is right.”
Please read that again: “Ms Yates said that even though the department had approved the order as lawful, she disagreed.”
Translated: I’m a Demorat hack whose last few seconds will be devoted to throwing sand into the gears of the Trump presidency on behalf of my one true god, Barack Hussein Obama.
Oh my, will there be more to come.
BZ