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| Acting AG tells DOJ lawyers not to defend Trump travel ban order | Acting AG tells DOJ lawyers not to defend Trump travel ban order |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Acting Attorney General Sally Yates instructed Justice Department attorneys to not legally defend President Donald Trump's executive order on refugees and immigration. | Acting Attorney General Sally Yates instructed Justice Department attorneys to not legally defend President Donald Trump's executive order on refugees and immigration. |
| Yates, an Obama appointee, is expected to be replaced by Trump's pick, Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama), in the near future. Meanwhile, courts in California, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia and Washington state have already been presented with cases challenging the order. | Yates, an Obama appointee, is expected to be replaced by Trump's pick, Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama), in the near future. Meanwhile, courts in California, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia and Washington state have already been presented with cases challenging the order. |
| “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,” Yates wrote in a letter, according to the New York Times. “At present, 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.” | “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,” Yates wrote in a letter, according to the New York Times. “At present, 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.” |
| Trump responded to Yates' move on Twitter, calling it an example of Democrats' obstruction "for purely political reasons." | |
| “For as long as I am the acting attorney general," Yates wrote, "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.” | |
| Yates said the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel gave a limited review of the order, but not on its potential ramifications. | Yates said the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel gave a limited review of the order, but not on its potential ramifications. |
| “Importantly, it does not address whether any policy choice embodied in an executive order is wise or just,’’ she wrote. “At present, 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.’’ | “Importantly, it does not address whether any policy choice embodied in an executive order is wise or just,’’ she wrote. “At present, 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.’’ |
| Trump's executive order, signed Friday, halts the Syrian refugee resettlement program for 120 days and prohibits citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries from US entry for 90 days. | Trump's executive order, signed Friday, halts the Syrian refugee resettlement program for 120 days and prohibits citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries from US entry for 90 days. |
| Senator Chuck Schumer (D-New York) told CNN in an interview about the announcement. He added that a dozen Republicans have spoken out against the executive order, and called on GOP to join in not only repealing the ban but in voting against Sessions because he’s “anti-immigrant.” | Senator Chuck Schumer (D-New York) told CNN in an interview about the announcement. He added that a dozen Republicans have spoken out against the executive order, and called on GOP to join in not only repealing the ban but in voting against Sessions because he’s “anti-immigrant.” |
| “This [ban] is bad in itself but the way it was implemented, it didn’t look like the United States looked like it knew what it was doing,” Schumer said. | “This [ban] is bad in itself but the way it was implemented, it didn’t look like the United States looked like it knew what it was doing,” Schumer said. |