Donald Trump Fires Acting Attorney General Over Immigration Ban

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — President Donald Trump has fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates after she announced she would not defend his controversial immigration order.

He is naming Dana Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve in her place.

The White House press office says in a statement Monday that Yates "has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States."

The statement calls Yates an Obama administration appointee "who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration."

Former attorney general Eric Holder tweeted support for Yates.

Trump's order from Friday temporarily suspends the U.S. refugee program and bars immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries.

Trump has picked Sen. Jeff Sessions to lead the Justice Department, but he has yet to be confirmed by the Senate.

Dana Boente has been sworn in as acting attorney general after Donald Trump fired Sally Yates for refusing to enforce his travel ban.

White House spokesman Michael Short says Boente was sworn in around 9 p.m. Monday.

The hastily arranged ceremony came after Trump swiftly fired Boente's predecessor for instructing Justice Department lawyers to stop defending Trump's travel and refugee ban.

Reporters and news photographers were not invited to witness the ceremony.

The White House says in a statement that Yates had "betrayed the Department of Justice" by refusing to enforce Trump's order.

Boente has been serving as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.