To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate
Name Sally Yates Special Prosecutor of Trump-Russia Ties
Sally Yates was fired as Attorney General by Donald Trump after she ordered the Justice Department not to defend Trump's executive order on travel and immigration. On Monday she testified before Congress about Michael Flynn's lies about his Russian contacts. Now she should be named Special Prosecutor of a thorough inquiry into the Trump administration's ties with Russia.
In late January, Yates warned the Trump administration that National Security Advisor Michael T. Flynn had not been truthful about his contacts with Russia related to sanctions and that he was vulnerable to blackmail by Russian intelligence. The Washington Post publicly reported Yates's warning on February 13, 2017, and within hours Flynn resigned.[21][22]
On January 30, 2017, Yates , writing in a letter to DOJ staff:
At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities of the Department of Justice, 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. For as long as I am the acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of th[is] executive order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so.[23][24][25]
In response to her decision not to defend the order, former Attorney General Eric Holder tweeted that he trusted her judgment.[26]
Letter from Sally Yates explaining her view of Executive Order 13769
Later that day, via hand-delivered letter, she was dismissed by the Trump administration
In late January, Yates warned the Trump administration that National Security Advisor Michael T. Flynn had not been truthful about his contacts with Russia related to sanctions and that he was vulnerable to blackmail by Russian intelligence. The Washington Post publicly reported Yates's warning on February 13, 2017, and within hours Flynn resigned.[21][22]
On January 30, 2017, Yates , writing in a letter to DOJ staff:
At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities of the Department of Justice, 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. For as long as I am the acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of th[is] executive order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so.[23][24][25]
In response to her decision not to defend the order, former Attorney General Eric Holder tweeted that he trusted her judgment.[26]
Letter from Sally Yates explaining her view of Executive Order 13769
Later that day, via hand-delivered letter, she was dismissed by the Trump administration
Why is this important?
In an unprecedented move, Trump fired the FBI director who was in the process of investigating him. Trump must not be allowed to thumb his nose at the processes of our Republic in this way. We must defend our democracy by holding the White House accountable and by investigating exactly what they have been up to that might have been illegal or even treasonous.