This is former acting attorney general Sally Yates and she just did something amazing
This is former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, a woman who has prosecuted terrorists and fought public corruption.
Trump's administration recently fired Yates after she stood up against his 90-day ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries entering the US.
Yates, who was the USA’s top law enforcement official, told justice department lawyers not to defend Trump’s order, and said she wasn’t sure the ban was consistent with the department’s obligation to ‘Stand for what is right’.
The White House said Yates ‘betrayed the department by refusing to enforce the order'.
Within three hours, Yates, who was appointed by Obama, was fired from her post.
Trump’s administration has been heavily criticised for the move:
To make matters worse, an interview has resurfaced with Senator Jeff Sessions, Trump’s pick for attorney general, saying this to Yates:
Senator, I believe the Attorney General or the Deputy Attorney General has an obligation to follow the law and the Constitution and to give their independent legal advice to the President.
Yates has received praise for her actions:
Yates served in the department of justice for 27 years. She has prosecuted on cases including white-collar fraud, political corruption, and she served as the lead prosecutor at the trial of Olympic bomber Eric Rudolph.
She has fought for justice reform, including mental health reform within the criminal justice system, ensuring only the most reliable forensic evidence is used when testifying in court, and she has advocated for proportional sentencing that incorporates “decency, humanity and fairness” into sentencing criminals.
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