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Plenty of people cried foul when President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning people from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering America.
Some said it was “immoral”. Others described it as “Anti-American”.
But one woman went a step further. According to Sally Yates, not only was Trump’s executive order mean-spirited, it was illegal.
And Yates should know; she’s the acting Attorney-General of the United States.
Or at least she was.
On Monday, Yates directed US attorneys *not* to defend TRump’s controversial immigration ban. “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,” Ms Yates said.
“At present, I am not convinced that the defence of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful.”
Within hours, Trump had sacked her – paving the way for her own appointee (Yates was appointed by Barack Obama).
But the former acting Attorney-General wasn’t the only woman to publicly oppose Trump this week.
It was Judge Ann M Donnelly who issued an emergency stay on Trump’s executive order – after lawyers rushed to her courtroom to file legal motions on behalf of foreigners who had arrived that day.
Judge Donnelly’s decision – which made headlines around the world – effectively meant that any foreigners in the air when Trump’s order was signed could safely land and remain in the US. She was the first judge to block the order.
So far, she’s still in a job.
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