Sally Yates in New Yorker

On Civil Rights: Religious freedom is a defining, founding principle of US

She received a call from her deputy, Matt Axelrod. "You're not going to believe this, but I just read online that the President has executed this travel ban," he said. Because it appeared to be based on the Muslim ban that Trump had proposed during the campaign, and because it gave preferential treatment to Syrian Christians, it arguably violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. She continued, "This is a defining, founding principle of our country: religious freedom. How can the Department of Justice go in and defend something that so significantly undermines that, when we're not convinced it's true?" Source: New Yorker magazine on 2020 Veepstakes May 22, 2017

On Immigration: Muslim travel ban violates religious freedom

[When the Trump administration imposed the travel ban from Muslim countries] Yates thought that two arguments against the order were particularly strong. Because it gave preferential treatment to Syrian Christians, it arguably violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. And, because the ban denied entry both to visa holders and to legal residents, there seemed to be serious due-process questions.

Yates gathered a dozen Trump staff; she recalled saying, "I'm troubled about this from a constitutional standpoint--but what's the defense to this?" She wasn't impressed by the argument, made by some officials, that the order had nothing to do with religion.

[She concluded that BOJ must], "go into court on something as fundamental as religious freedom. This is a defining, founding principle of our country: religious freedom. How can the Department of Justice go in and defend something that so significantly undermines that, when we're not convinced it's true?"

Source: Ryan Lizza in The New Yorker on 2020 Veepstakes May 29, 2017

On Principles & Values: AG should say no to president in order to obey the law

Yates started out as acting Deputy Attorney General under Eric Holder, in January, 2015. In November 2014, Obama had announced several executive orders that would have protected more than eight million undocumented immigrants. The Republican Congress revolted, claiming that the President's actions were illegal.

At the hearing to officially confirm her for the position, in March, 2015, Republicans, including Jeff Sessions, asked her whether she would stand up to President Obama if he defied the law. "They were all over me about 'Look, you've got to be independent. You don't work for the President,' " Yates said. "They're absolutely right. You've got to be able to say no to the President. You've got to make your own decisions about what's lawful and constitutional."

Source: Ryan Lizza in The New Yorker on 2015 Confirmation Hearings May 29, 2017

The above quotations are from Columns and news articles in The New Yorker. Click here for other excerpts from Columns and news articles in The New Yorker. Click here for other excerpts by Sally Yates. Click here for a profile of Sally Yates.
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org! Click for details -- or send donations to: 1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140 E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org (We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Oct 14, 2023