5 Moments From Sally Yates's Senate Testimony That Prove Just How Badass She Is

By Eleanor Sheehan
Getty | Chip Somodevilla
Getty | Chip Somodevilla

Sally Yates deserves an award for how impressively she held her composure against an onslaught of mansplaining and patronizing during her Senate confirmation hearing. Yates, who was acting attorney general before she was fired for failing to enforce President Donald Trump's travel ban, testified before the Senate on May 8. Yates was questioned by the committee about her involvement in the Justice Department's investigation of Trump's former national security adviser, General Michael Flynn. Yates had alerted the White House of Flynn's potential to be blackmailed by Russia given his close relationship with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

In recent weeks, Trump's administration has attempted to shift the blame of Flynn's high security clearance and access to former President Barack Obama. However, Yates's testimony revealed that the Justice Department had, in fact, warned the incoming administration of Flynn's ties to Russia. A separate source told NBC News that Obama also warned the incoming president that Flynn was not a wise hire.

At the end of January, when Yates described Trump's attempted travel ban as unconstitutional, she was lauded by many as a hero for standing up to the administration. During her Senate testimony, Yates proved once again that not all heroes wear capes. Ahead are some of Yates's shining moments.

1. When she defended her decision to not enforce President Trump's travel ban.

2. When she schooled Ted Cruz in constitutional law.

3. When she got blunt about then-National Security Adviser Mike Flynn's dishonesty with the White House.

4. When she clarified Sean Spicer's mischaracterization of the Justice Department's assessment of General Flynn's ties to Russia.

5. When she made a suggestion about how to prevent election hacking in the future.

We have to hand it to Yates for remaining composed despite encountering such blatant condescension and mansplaining during questioning; her interaction with Senator John Kennedy best summarizes her treatment.