Trump sacks defiant acting attorney general

Ms Yates, right, was appointed by Barack Obama and remained in an acting role

Donald Trump has fired the acting US attorney general, after she questioned the legality of his immigration ban.

Sally Yates, who had been appointed under Barack Obama, earlier ordered justice department lawyers not to enforce the president's executive order.

Dana Boente, US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, replaced her as acting attorney general.
He has directed the department to enforce Mr Trump's order.


In a statement, the White House said Ms Yates had "betrayed" the department. Mr Trump's order temporarily banned nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US, and sparked street protests in the US and abroad.

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In a letter, Ms Yates had said she was "not convinced" that the president's order was lawful. "As long as I am the acting attorney general, the department of justice will not present arguments in defence of the Executive Order," she said.

Within hours, the White House announced: "President Trump relieved Ms Yates of her duties."

She had "betrayed the department of justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States", a statement from the press secretary said.
It also described her as "weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration".