I previously discussed the dubious decision taken by former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates to order the entire Justice Department to stand down and not to assist the president in the defense of his first executive order on immigration. In a letter to the president, Yates said she was not convinced that the law is just or right. Yates effectively dared Trump to fire her over the immigration order and he did so.  Now Yates has volunteered to testify before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence — a hearing that was abruptly cancelled by its Chairman.  Such an appearance is relatively rare and fraught with difficult constitutional and ethical questions for Yates. She would be testifying  in the committee’s investigation into Russian interference in the presidential election.  However, she is testifying as someone who was recently in a prosecutorial position about subjects related to an ongoing investigation where no one has yet to be indicted.  Even if she can manuever around the privilege issues, she could raise serious ethical issues with her testimony.

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