Washington (CNN) – Acting Attorney General Sally Yates has told Justice Department lawyers not to make legal arguments defending President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration and refugees, according to sources familiar with the order.
The move sets up a dramatic clash between the White House and Yates, who was appointed by President Barack Obama and is set to serve until Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trump’s nominee for attorney general, is confirmed.
“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,” she said in a letter. “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.”
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Sources: Acting attorney general has told DOJ lawyers not to defend Trump's executive order on travel restrictions https://t.co/tQxqyXDdn8 pic.twitter.com/JkWdoMTiaq
— CNN (@CNN) January 30, 2017
It is fitting–and sad–that the very last act of the Obama DOJ is for the acting AG to defy the newly elected POTUS https://t.co/JiUCizK3bu pic.twitter.com/20Ph4lZRVh
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) January 31, 2017
.@POTUS fires acting AG Sally Yates for "refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens" of US pic.twitter.com/9LOufrREHE
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 31, 2017
According to statement sent out at 11:45pm, Acting AG Boente has reversed Yates' decision on the EO pic.twitter.com/J6gnpiTI3i
— Betsy Woodruff (@woodruffbets) January 31, 2017
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