Sally Yates was fired by Donald Trump after ten days. She refused to defend his travel ban order. Now she holds a powerful new role at Cornell. The Ivy League school hired her for a review. This review focuses on sexual assault on campus. It follows intense scrutiny of a specific case. An alleged gang rape happened at a fraternity. The incident took place in October 2024. Yates brings decades of Justice Department experience. She also brings a history of political fights. Her appointment raises questions about who gets hired. It also raises questions about who pays.
Yates served as deputy attorney general under Obama. The Senate confirmed her with an 84-12 vote. Her career shifted during the Trump transition. Trump asked her to stay as acting chief. His nominee Jeff Sessions awaited confirmation. Yates lasted only ten days in that role. She told lawyers not to defend the ban. The ban restricted entry from seven countries. Trump called her action a betrayal of duty. He said it failed to protect citizens. Yates argued the order was not legal. She believed the department must seek justice. She stood by her view of the law.
Her public profile grew after her firing. She testified before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee. She discussed Russian interference in the 2016 election. She had warned White House Counsel Don McGahn. Her warning concerned Michael Flynn, then adviser. Flynn discussed sanctions with a Russian ambassador. This happened while Pence denied it publicly. Yates warned Flynn could face blackmail risks. Flynn resigned eighteen days after her warning. He later pleaded guilty to false statements. This history makes her a known Trump foe. Cornell selected her and her firm King & Spalding. They chose her for her investigative skills. Her firm will access internal university documents. This includes case files and disciplinary records. They will also review police communications.
Yates has conducted similar investigations before. In 2021, she probed the National Women's League. Her team interviewed more than 200 people. The investigation uncovered widespread verbal abuse. It also found sexual misconduct and silence. Coaches accused of misconduct continued working. Her report recommended stronger background checks. It called for clearer reporting procedures. The findings were released in October 2022. Cornell faces similar questions about its policies. A lawsuit from the alleged victim renewed focus. New York Attorney General Letitia James is involved. James oversees a separate state investigation. James previously brought a fraud case against Trump. The two investigations have different mandates. James looks at the specific case. Yates reviews broader university policies. She will assess if Cornell followed rules. The review aims to determine what went wrong. It seeks to understand the institutional response. The final report will detail these findings. The money for this review comes from the school. The accountability rests on the results.