Sally Yates, fired by Trump, has been nominated for the JFK award
Sally Yates was appointed deputy attorney general by Barack Obama and was running the Justice Department under Trump until his nominee, Senator Jeff Sessions, is confirmed by Congress.
On Monday, Trump fired Yates after she issued a memo for lawyers within the Justice Department telling them not to defend Trump’s immigration ban signed on the 27 January.
Why was she fired?
Sally Yates refused to defend Trump’s executive order banning entry to people from seven Muslim-majority countries. She wrote in a letter to top lawyers: “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.”
She added: “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.”
Yates’ refusal to defend Trump’s ban on Muslims and refugees is the most recent display of dissent from a US government department in disagreement with the controversial order.
Praise from within
Yates has gained enormous praise from Democrats and non-Democrats alike for defending the US constitution. Democratic National Committee senior advisor Zac Petkanas labelled Yates a “heroic patriot” and praises her for defending what he claims is an “illegal” Muslim-ban.
New York Senator Chuck Schumer describes what Yates did as an act of bravery.
Democrat and high ranking Senate judiciary committee member Patrick Leahy also commented, saying: “She was fired for recognising that her oath is to the Constitution and not to President Trump. His accusation that she has ‘betrayed the Department of Justice’ is wrong and it is dangerous.”
Former CIA operative Evan McMullin praises Yates for her courage in standing up against Trump’s Muslim ban that many have labelled unconstitutional.
Congresswoman Jackie Speier tweeted saying that she has nominated Sally Yates for President Kennedy’s Profile in Courage Award.
The award has been an annual award since 1990 and it “recognizes a public official (or officials) at the federal, state or local level whose actions demonstrate the qualities of politically courageous leadership in the spirit of Profiles in Courage, President Kennedy’s 1957 Pulitzer prize-winning book, which recounts the stories of eight U.S. Senators who risked their careers by embracing unpopular positions for the greater good.”
The hashtag #ThankYouSallyYates gained massive support on Twitter, and was trending along with #ThankYouSally and #SallyYates. The hashtag was tweeted out by:
Author Amy Cousins
Women’s March NYC
US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
as well as the No Ban No Wall campaign
Stay informed with MEE's newsletters
Sign up to get the latest alerts, insights and analysis, starting with Turkey Unpacked
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
