Ex-DOJ head gets a 'D' for her actions
Sean Spicer, White House press secretary, shows the White House's new "pink slips" made of scarlet-colored paper. The government has ordered many of these "D-trayal" slips in expectation of further firings.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Citing a refusal to defend the president's order as a "betrayal," the White House issued its first big pink slip to acting Attorney General Sally Yates on Tuesday.
"It's not actually a pink slip," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said in a press conference. "We're not particularly big on that color here. We changed it to something bolder, more of a crimson or a scarlet letter."
Spicer showed off scores of boxes of the new scarlet dismissal letters in his briefing, as a warning that the administration will not tolerate further dissent. He warned that any career bureaucrats who don't like the president's agenda can "either get with the program or they can go."
The dismissal letters are all emblazoned with a large letter "D" written in script fashion.
"This is more than a betrayal of her office, or of her country," the president tweeted before the briefing. "Donald Trump won the election fair and square. I won. This is a betrayal of me, Donald J. Trump, the Donald. This is a D-trayal."
Yates was appointed deputy attorney general by President Barack Obama, but agreed to serve as acting head of the Justice Department until a new Attorney General could be confirmed. On Tuesday, she said she would not enforce the president's contentious immigration order because she is unconvinced of its legality. The order, which created a temporary ban on entry visas for people from seven predominantly Muslim countries, sparked mass protests.
When asked how much of a deterrent the administration believes the new piece of paper will be to Yates and others, Spicer said, "Let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart."
Spicer downplayed reports from critics that the new high-quality embossed government cardstock was "a grossly unnecessary, unbudgeted expenditure." He said the president negotiated a great deal for the purchase. He quickly added, "And it's from an American factory located in America that is in now way tied to Mr. Trump or any of his business interests. We have the paperwork to prove it."
Spicer denied press inquiries for copies of the administration's "paperwork," saying the American people do not care to see it. He then shifted gears after a barrage of new questions and concluded: "Mexico is going to pay for it."
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