Press Releases

Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, issued the following statement in response to Trump firing Acting Attorney General Sally Yates:

“President Trump has commenced a course of conduct that is Nixonian in its design and execution and threatens the long-vaunted independence of the Justice Department.  If dedicated government officials deem his directives to be unlawful and unconstitutional, he will simply fire them as if government is a reality show.  I call on my colleagues, regardless of party, to condemn this executive order and the reckless firing of our chief law enforcement officer.

“I am also concerned that this decision to force Acting Attorney General Yates from her post before her successor is confirmed leaves an unacceptable gap in our law enforcement and national security capabilities. Ms. Yates was the only official of the Department of Justice currently authorized to make an application of any kind to the FISA court.  It is unacceptable to fire her and leave law enforcement and national security in the lurch.”

Shortly before Trump’s announcement to fire Yates, Ranking Member Conyers issued a statement praising Yates for her courageous act. You can view the statement here.