Trump fires acting US attorney general over immigration ban defiance

The president of the United States on Monday fired the acting attorney general after she refused to defend in court the ban on immigrants and refugees imposed by the White House on Friday.

"The acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States," the White House said in a statement.

Yates is a prosecutor of the era of former US president Barack Obama and was in office while waiting for the US Senate to confirm Donald Trump's nominee for the attorney general, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions.

Trump has appointed Dana Boente, a prosecutor for the eastern district of Virginia, as the new acting attorney general.
EFE/EPA
31/1/17
-
Related:

• Acting attorney general tells Justice Department not to defend Trump's order