Renewable Revolution

By Leslie Salzillo   

Monday May 08, 2017 ·  5:30 PM EDT

During the Russian collusion hearings on Monday, former Deputy Attorney General, then Acting Attorney General for the Department of Justice, Sally Yates, batted off Trump-supporting Republicans like flies as they desperately tried to discredit, trick and shame her. They failed, and what they did do is embarrass themselves and the country by defending Donald Trump, also known as the ridiculous  deceitful, hate-mongering  “Fake President.”

During one particular inquisition, Texas Senator Ted Cruz pompously decided to question Yates on Trump’s Muslim ban, rather than on what Yates knew about Michael Flynn, which were the main reason for the hearing. Cruz found himself messing with the wrong person, as he tried to edify Yates on Trump’s authority using a section of the INA/Immigration and Nationality Act.

Here is a video excerpt followed by the video transcript.


(Transcript Excerpt)

A minute into the video Cruz brings up Trump’s Muslim ban. This is where his usual condescending  smug side reveals its ugly self.


Ted Cruz: Okay. Let’s revisit the topic, Miss Yates, that you and Senator Cornyn were talking about. (see video below)

Sally Yates: Okay.

Ted Cruz: Um. Is it correct that the Constitution vests the authority in the President?

Sally Yates: Yes.

Ted Cruz: And if an attorney general disagrees with the policy decision of the President — a policy decision that is lawful, does the attorney general have the authority to direct the Department of Justice to defy the President’s order? 

Sally Yates: I don’t know whether the attorney general has the authority to do that or not, but I don’t think it would be a good idea — and that’s not what I did in this case.

Ted Cruz: Well, are  you familiar with 8 U.S. Code § 1182?

Sally Yates: Not off the top of my head, no.

Ted Cruz: Well, It, it is the binding statutory authority for the president’s executive order your refused to implement that led to your termination, so it certainly is a relevant and not obscure statute.

Sally Yates: MmmHmm.

Notice how Cruz gets in his dig that Yates was “terminated?” The Texas senator goes on to quote one section of the statute.


Ted Cruz: By the expressed text of the statue it says, quote:  ‘Whenever the President finds that the entry of any alien or class of aliens into the United States, would be detrimental to the interest of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for any period he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or class of aliens  as immigrants or non immigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens, any restrictions he may deem appropriate.’ Would you agree that, that is broad statutory authorization?

Without hesitation, Yates replies with an additional provision that “trumps” (yes, she uses that word)  Cruz — basically out-lawyering him and putting him in his place for all the nation/world to see.


Sally Yates: I would, and I am familiar with that — and I’m also familiar with an additional provision of the INA that says: “No person shall receive preference or be discriminated against in issuance of a visa because of race, nationality, or place of birth.” That, I believe was promulgated after the statute that you just quoted. And, that’s been part of the discussion with the courts in respect to the INA, is whether this more specific statute trumps the first one that you just described.

But my concern was not an INA concern, here; it rather, was a constitutional concern.

And scene. Ted Cruz is still desperately trying to ‘find himself’ after election — but then, it’s really dark up in Trump’s ass. Here are some of the responses from Twitter during the Yates-Cruz exchange. (at article link)

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/05/08/1660176/-Watch-Sally-Yates-School-Ted-Cruz-On-Constitutional-Law