The breaking news of the evening yesterday was the firing of acting Attorney General Sally Yates, who dared to defy President
Sessions Urged Yates To Defy President When Necessary
Of course, the president at the time was Barack Obama, a man with whom Sessions disagrees on pretty much everything.
In March, 2015, Yates sat in confirmation hearings and was grilled by Sessions, who said:
“You have to watch out because people will be asking you to do things you just need to say ‘no’ about. Do you think the attorney general has the responsibility to say no to the president if he asks for something that’s improper?”
Yates eloquently replied:
“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.”
And, at the time, Republicans loved her.
My how the tables have turned.
Sally Yates was doing exactly what she said she would do when she was unceremoniously relieved of her duties yesterday — she was following the Constitution. Numerous legal scholars have lambasted the executive order as unconstitutional, Yates included.
The man Trump has chosen as Attorney General urged her to say “no” to a president if that president overstepped his bounds.
If only Sessions would take his own advice.
Featured image via screenshot from NBC video
