Debate
add a link
Trump Fires Acting Attorney-General For Doing Her Job
Trump Fires Acting Attorney-General For Doing Her Job
|
|||||||||||||
|
Submitted
by 
ThePrincesTale
over a year ago
|
|
1 fan
|
|||
|
|||
I remember visiting this website once...
It was called Trump fires chief US lawyer who defied him on migrant ban, acting AG to defend ban | SBS News
Here's some stuff I remembered seeing:
Trump fires chief US lawyer who defied him on migrant ban, acting AG to defend ban
US President Donald Trump on Monday fired the acting attorney general, a holdover from the Obama administration, after she ordered Justice Department attorneys not to defend his controversial executive order on immigration.
In a sharply worded statement, the White House called Sally Yates "weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration" and also criticised Democrats for not yet confirming the appointment of attorney general-designate Jeff Sessions.
"The acting attorney general, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States," the White House said in a statement.
"This order was approved as to form and legality by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel," it said.
"Tonight, President Trump relieved Ms Yates of her duties."
Federal prosecutor Dana Boente will serve as acting attorney general "until Senator Jeff Sessions is finally confirmed by the Senate, where he is being wrongly held up by Democrat senators for strictly political reasons," it said.
Acting chief orders US Justice Department not to defend Trump travel ban
The acting US attorney general, a holdover from the Obama administration, ordered Justice Department lawyers Monday to not defend President Donald Trump's ban on refugees and other travelers from seven Muslim countries.
With Trump\'s White House facing multiple lawsuits and worldwide opprobrium over an order banning migrants from seven Muslim nations, Yates had whipped the rug from under her boss in a defiant and damaging parting shot.
In a memo to Department of Justice staff, Yates -- a career government lawyer promoted by Barack Obama -- expressed doubts about the legality and morality of Trump\'s decree, which has prompted mass protests.
"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," Yates wrote.
"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," she added.
"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."
US diplomats added their voices Monday to a chorus of protest against President Donald Trump's decision to suspend refugee arrivals and ban visitors from seven Muslim countries.
Australian citizens exempt from Trump immigration order, Turnbull confirms
Malcolm Turnbull has this morning confirmed that Australians will be exempted from the United States' sweeping executive order on immigration.
Yates\'s directive means that the US government, at least for now, has no authorised courtroom representation in the lawsuits.
It was a remarkable act of defiance against a tough-talking president who has showed little sign of brooking insubordination.
But in a statement issued hours after his appointment, Boente said he would defend the president\'s directive.
"Based upon the Office of Legal Counsel\'s analysis, which found the Executive Order both lawful on its face and properly drafted, I hereby rescind former Acting Attorney General Sally Q. Yates January 30, 2017, guidance and direct the men and women of the Department of Justice to do our sworn duty and to defend the lawful orders of our President," Boente said in a statement.
WATCH: Trump\'s travel ban sparks global backlash
Sessions has not yet been confirmed by Congress. He faces a vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday and must then be confirmed by the full Senate.
If confirmed, Sessions would almost certainly reverse course.
But Democrats lawmakers have vociferously opposed Trump\'s order and Republicans lawmakers are privately seething over the way his White House has handled the issue.
The order signed on Friday suspended the arrival of all refugees for a minimum of 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
Several federal judges have since filed temporary stays.
World leaders react to Donald Trump’s immigration ban
Prominent leaders from around the world have registered their concern, though several have declined to comment.
Firing Yates has uncomfortable echoes of President Richard Nixon\'s "Saturday night massacre" during the Watergate scandal.
Then, Nixon fired the Watergate special prosecutor, prompting the departures of his attorney general and deputy attorney general. The events catalyzed Nixon\'s impeachment.
On Sunday, attorneys general from 16 US states, including California and New York, condemned Trump\'s directive as "unconstitutional" and vowed to fight it.
Man City knock back $11 million offer for Mooy: reports
West Ham offer fans deal to get Payet off their backs
Watch: Indian woman critical after car crash in Melbourne
Pregnant Nauru asylum seeker in critical condition to be flown to Australia: Doctor
Victorian schoolboy believed to be first Australian hit with US visa ban
Mexico welcomes US idea to make drug cartels fund wall
Watch on SBS ONE 6.30pm nightly and 10.30pm Mon-Fri, listen at 6am & 6pm Mon-Fri.
Watch on SBS ONE 6.30pm nightly and 10.30pm Mon-Fri, listen at 6am & 6pm Mon-Fri.
read more
Related Links
| more links >> |
She got fired precisely for doing her job, not failing to do it. The US Justice system is not there to rubber stamp the President, or to support any executive order or law introduced - in fact, to do so would be antithetical to their role. They are there to provide a check and balance. They must ensure that government power is used in a lawful and constitutional manner. This separation of powers prevents a democracy becoming authoritarian.
With all this in mind: the Attorney-General advised Trump that his executive order might be unconstitutional, so he fired her. The message? Anyone who criticises me risks facing the chop. People who stand in the way of what I want are not doing so because their duties mandate they do so, they are just antagonising me and "betraying" (the White House's literal words) their department.
Does anyone realise how dangerous this is? Does anyone care?
Before the election, we said that even if Trump gets in, the checks and balances of the system will restrain him from doing anything too stupid. But in the first week, he has shown his utter disdain for these same checks and balances and set a precedent to weaken them. At least the Trump voters got what they wanted: he really is running government like a private business.
Anyone not worried about him is simply ignorant of history, politics, and the way our legal system works.
Sign In or join Fanpop to add your comment