Ted Cruz became a top trending topic on Twitter Monday after the Texas senator tried to argue that former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates was out of line when she announced that the Department of Justice would not defend President Donald Trump’s travel ban in January.
Cruz argued that Yates deliberately ignored the Office of Legal Counsel’s determination that the executive order was legal. But Yates shot back that OLC was at fault for glossing over a tiny thing called the First Amendment.
“In this particular instance, particularly where we were talking about a fundamental issue of religious freedom, not the interpretation of some arcane statute, but religion freedom, it was appropriate for us to look at the intent behind the president’s actions and the intent is laid out in his statements,” Yates said.
Never one to give up easily, Cruz tried to trip Yates one more time.
“In the over 200 years of the Department of Justice history, are you aware of any instance in which the Department of Justice has formally approved the legality of a policy and three days later the attorney general has directed the department not to follow that policy and to defy that policy?” Cruz said.
But Yates held her own.
“I’m not, but I’m also not aware of a situation where the Office of Legal Counsel was advised not to tell the attorney general about it until after it was over,” Yates said.
That was it all it took for social media to slap the senator around.
“The burn Cruz endured from Yates has scorched Ted with tinged scars and is forever a pre-existing condition,” wrote one user.
“Ted Cruz had to change pants after that schooling,” said another.
A third proclaimed: “No more ‘Lying Ted’ – How about ‘Cruz the Coward’? “
See more tweets below.
A re-enactment of #SallyYates during her hearing. pic.twitter.com/FHpH3rYzzi
— Travon Free (@Travon) May 8, 2017
Sally Yates vs Ted Cruz pic.twitter.com/aCjAj62mYx
— Chettah (@RyanJamesTV) May 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/MirandaRuns/status/861682667393339392
The burn Cruz endured from Yates has scorched Ted with tinged scars and is forever a pre-existing condition. #YatesHearing #RESISTANCE pic.twitter.com/qeEVyAxcVR
— T.S. Folke (@bootsworthton) May 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/mrgaryhuang/status/861682693783924737
https://twitter.com/janellejcomic/status/861682355794214912
Did he take a nap during the last hour? He sounded like a less intelligent and more condescending version of Ted Cruz.
— Amanita Sherry 💙🇺🇸💙🧷 (@amanitasherry) May 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/jttfsu/status/861682932943028227
He really looked stupid in the #SallyYatesHearing and YES! I can say he is LUCIFER CRUZ!
— Emani Peake (@EmaniPeake) May 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/TijilDeclerck/status/861682910134513664
No more "Lying Ted" – How about "Cruz the Coward" ?
Leaves hearing early after Yates kicks his ass.
— Steve Follansbee (@FollansbeeSteve) May 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/kc_barnett/status/861682773848993792
https://twitter.com/LiberalMolly/status/861682694555553792
https://twitter.com/NoJusticia/status/861682381975158787