On Monday night, in a letter to Justice Department lawyers, acting Attorney General of the United States, Sally Q. Yates, urged and ordered the Justice Department “not to defend President Trump’s executive order on immigration in court,” according to the New York Times.
Yates wrote that “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” and that she is “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.”
Currently, Yates is the only holdover from the Obama administration and will continue to be acting Attorney General until Trump’s nominee, Jeff Sessions, is confirmed. Yates wrote that “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,” as well, “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.”
According to CNN, this order will potentially be very “short-lived” because Sessions appointment is scheduled for a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.