FBI Director James Comey likened impenetrable digital encryption to a "vicious guard dog" Tuesday, as a high-stakes fight between privacy and national security moved from the courts to Congress.

"There's already a door on that iPhone. We're asking Apple to take the vicious guard dog away and let us pick the lock," Comey said before the House Judiciary Committee.

Tuesday's hearing comes amid two significant — and conflicting — court rulings in New York and California on whether Apple can be forced to help the FBI gain access to locked phones.

The hearing, which was also to feature Apple's top lawyer, is providing an extraordinary public forum for the Justice Department and Apple Inc. to stake out competing positions. The company's recent opposition has brought a long-simmering debate over digital privacy rights and national security to the mainstream.

A judge in California two weeks ago directed Apple to help the FBI hack into a locked iPhone used by one of the gunmen responsible for the San Bernardino, California attacks that killed 14 people. But on Monday, a judge in Brooklyn said the Obama administration couldn't force Apple to help it gain access to the phone.

Comey acknowledged Tuesday that either decision could set a precedent for other courts.

The California case involves an iPhone 5C owned by San Bernardino County and used by Syed Farook, who was a health inspector. He and his wife Tashfeen Malik killed 14 people during a Dec. 2 attack that was at least partly inspired by the Islamic State group. The couple died later in a gun battle with police.

FBI Director James Comey likened impenetrable digital encryption to a "vicious guard dog" Tuesday, as a high-stakes fight between privacy and national security moved from the courts to Congress.

"There's already a door on that iPhone. We're asking Apple to take the vicious guard dog away and let us pick the lock," Comey said before the House Judiciary Committee.

Tuesday's hearing comes amid two significant — and conflicting — court rulings in New York and California on whether Apple can be forced to help the FBI gain access to locked phones.

The hearing, which was also to feature Apple's top lawyer, is providing an extraordinary public forum for the Justice Department and Apple Inc. to stake out competing positions. The company's recent opposition has brought a long-simmering debate over digital privacy rights and national security to the mainstream.

A judge in California two weeks ago directed Apple to help the FBI hack into a locked iPhone used by one of the gunmen responsible for the San Bernardino, California attacks that killed 14 people. But on Monday, a judge in Brooklyn said the Obama administration couldn't force Apple to help it gain access to the phone.

Comey acknowledged Tuesday that either decision could set a precedent for other courts.

The California case involves an iPhone 5C owned by San Bernardino County and used by Syed Farook, who was a health inspector. He and his wife Tashfeen Malik killed 14 people during a Dec. 2 attack that was at least partly inspired by the Islamic State group. The couple died later in a gun battle with police.

POOL

Washington - 1 March 2016

1. FBI Director James Comey walking into hearing room

2. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

"Thank you for hosting this conversation and for helping us all talk about an issue that I believe is the hardest issue I've confronted in government, which is how to balance the privacy we so treasure, that comes to us through the technology that we love. And also achieve public safety which we also all very much treasure."

3. Cutaway of hearing

4. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

++SOUNDBITE INCLUDES CUTAWAYS++

"Two terrorists in the name of ISIL killed 14 people and wounded 22 others at an office gathering, and left behind three phones - two of which, the cheaper models, they smashed beyond use, and the third was left locked. In any investigation that's done competently, the FBI would try to get access to that phone. It's important that it's a live ongoing terrorism investigation, but in any criminal investigation, a competent investigator would try and use all lawful tools to get access to that device. And that's what you see happening in San Bernardino. The San Bernardino case is about that case. It obviously highlights the broader issue and of course it will be looked upon by other judges and other litigants, but it is about the case."

5. Cutaway of hearing

6. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

"There are no demons in this debate. The companies are not evil. The government is not evil. You have a whole lot of good people who see the world through different lenses, who care about things - all care about the same things in my view. The companies care about public safety. The FBI cares about innovation and privacy. We devote our lives to trying to stop people from stealing our innovation, our secrets, and hacking into our devices. We care about the same things, which should make this in a way an easier conversation."

7. Cutaway of hearing

8. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

"Sure potentially, because any decision of a court about a matter is potentially useful to other courts, which is what a precedent is. I happen to think, having talked to experts, there are technical limitations to how useful this particular San Bernardino technique will be, given how the phones have changed. But sure, other courts, other prosecutors, other lawyers for companies, will look to that for guidance or to try and distinguish it."

9. Cutaway of hearing

10. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

"There's already a door on that iPhone. Essentially, we're asking Apple - take the vicious guard dog away. Let us try and pick the lock."

11. Cutaway of hearing

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus049739

FBI Director James Comey likened impenetrable digital encryption to a "vicious guard dog" Tuesday, as a high-stakes fight between privacy and national security moved from the courts to Congress.

"There's already a door on that iPhone. We're asking Apple to take the vicious guard dog away and let us pick the lock," Comey said before the House Judiciary Committee.

Tuesday's hearing comes amid two significant — and conflicting — court rulings in New York and California on whether Apple can be forced to help the FBI gain access to locked phones.

The hearing, which was also to feature Apple's top lawyer, is providing an extraordinary public forum for the Justice Department and Apple Inc. to stake out competing positions. The company's recent opposition has brought a long-simmering debate over digital privacy rights and national security to the mainstream.

A judge in California two weeks ago directed Apple to help the FBI hack into a locked iPhone used by one of the gunmen responsible for the San Bernardino, California attacks that killed 14 people. But on Monday, a judge in Brooklyn said the Obama administration couldn't force Apple to help it gain access to the phone.

Comey acknowledged Tuesday that either decision could set a precedent for other courts.

The California case involves an iPhone 5C owned by San Bernardino County and used by Syed Farook, who was a health inspector. He and his wife Tashfeen Malik killed 14 people during a Dec. 2 attack that was at least partly inspired by the Islamic State group. The couple died later in a gun battle with police.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus049739

FBI Director James Comey likened impenetrable digital encryption to a "vicious guard dog" Tuesday, as a high-stakes fight between privacy and national security moved from the courts to Congress.

"There's already a door on that iPhone. We're asking Apple to take the vicious guard dog away and let us pick the lock," Comey said before the House Judiciary Committee.

Tuesday's hearing comes amid two significant — and conflicting — court rulings in New York and California on whether Apple can be forced to help the FBI gain access to locked phones.

The hearing, which was also to feature Apple's top lawyer, is providing an extraordinary public forum for the Justice Department and Apple Inc. to stake out competing positions. The company's recent opposition has brought a long-simmering debate over digital privacy rights and national security to the mainstream.

A judge in California two weeks ago directed Apple to help the FBI hack into a locked iPhone used by one of the gunmen responsible for the San Bernardino, California attacks that killed 14 people. But on Monday, a judge in Brooklyn said the Obama administration couldn't force Apple to help it gain access to the phone.

Comey acknowledged Tuesday that either decision could set a precedent for other courts.

The California case involves an iPhone 5C owned by San Bernardino County and used by Syed Farook, who was a health inspector. He and his wife Tashfeen Malik killed 14 people during a Dec. 2 attack that was at least partly inspired by the Islamic State group. The couple died later in a gun battle with police.

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++

POOL

Washington - 1 March 2016

1. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

"Thank you for hosting this conversation and for helping us all talk about an issue that I believe is the hardest issue I've confronted in government, which is how to balance the privacy we so treasure, that comes to us through the technology that we love. And also achieve public safety which we all very much treasure."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

"Two terrorists in the name of ISIL killed 14 people and wounded 22 others at an office gathering, and left behind three phones - two of which, the cheaper models, they smashed beyond use, and the third was left locked. In any investigation that's done competently, the FBI would try to get access to that phone. It's important that it's a live ongoing terrorism investigation, but in any criminal investigation, a competent investigator would try and use all lawful tools to get access to that device."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

"There are no demons in this debate. The companies are not evil. The government is not evil. You have a whole lot of good people who see the world through different lenses, who care about things - all care about the same things in my view."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

"Sure potentially, because any decision of a court about a matter is potentially useful to other courts, which is what a precedent is. I happen to think, having talked to experts, there are technical limitations to how useful this particular San Bernardino technique will be, given how the phones have changed. But sure, other courts, other prosecutors, other lawyers for companies, will look to that for guidance or to try to distinguish it."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

"There's already a door on that iPhone. Essentially, we're asking Apple - take the vicious guard dog away. Let us try and pick the lock."

FBI Director James Comey said Thursday the intelligence community is "not aware of any credible threat" in the U.S. of a Paris-style attack.

He also said they have seen "no connection at all between the Paris attackers and the United States."

Comey said the Islamic State and its supporters put out a lot of propaganda, like the recent videos threatening Washington and New York, but he urged, "that is not credible intelligence."

The FBI Director said in the United States, law enforcement is most concerned about lone-wolf individuals inspired by the Islamic State, and he said post 9/11, the intelligence community has gotten very good at tracking these people down and preventing attacks.

Still, Comey urged Americans to be vigilant and speak up if they see or hear anything suspicious.

"Tell us what you saw and then go on living your life while we do our work," he said.

FBI Director James Comey said Thursday the intelligence community is "not aware of any credible threat" in the U.S. of a Paris-style attack.

He also said they have seen "no connection at all between the Paris attackers and the United States."

Comey said the Islamic State and its supporters put out a lot of propaganda, like the recent videos threatening Washington and New York, but he urged, "that is not credible intelligence."

The FBI Director said in the United States, law enforcement is most concerned about lone-wolf individuals inspired by the Islamic State, and he said post 9/11, the intelligence community has gotten very good at tracking these people down and preventing attacks.

Still, Comey urged Americans to be vigilant and speak up if they see or hear anything suspicious.

"Tell us what you saw and then go on living your life while we do our work," he said.

POOL

Washington, DC - 19 November 2015

1. James Comey and Loretta Lynch walk into news conference

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

" We are not aware of any credible threat here of a Paris type attack. And we have seen no connection at all between the Paris attackers and the United States. ISIL and its supporters put out all kinds of propaganda like videos and magazines, but that is not credible intelligence. Of course we investigate all of those propaganda threats, but instead the threats here focused primarily on troubled souls in America who are being inspired or enabled online to do something violent for ISIL. We have stopped a lot of those people this year, especially leading up to July 4th and there are others we worry about and we cover all across the country using all of our lawful tools."

3. Mid shot of Comey speaking

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

"Do not let fear become disabling. That is what the terrorists want. They want you to imagine them in the shadows, they want you to imagine them as something greater than they are. Instead, we hope that you will turn fear into healthy awareness of what's around you. If you see something that gives you a bad feeling, tell someone in law enforcement. Since September 11th, we have really worked to get ourselves organized in such a way that if you walk up and tell any police officer in this country or any deputy sheriff in this country that you saw something, didn't seem right, you heard something that didn't seem right, or you read something online that seemed off, that information will get to the right people immediately. You can count on it. And we will check it out. If it's nothing, no harm done but if it was something, great harm may be avoided. Counterterrorism is what you pay us to do. Tell us what you saw and then go on living your life while we do our work. That is channeling fear into something healthy which is awareness of your surroundings and not something disabling. That's what we hope you will do."

5. Wide shot of news conference

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus042649

FBI Director James Comey said Thursday the intelligence community is "not aware of any credible threat" in the U.S. of a Paris-style attack.

He also said they have seen "no connection at all between the Paris attackers and the United States."

Comey said the Islamic State and its supporters put out a lot of propaganda, like the recent videos threatening Washington and New York, but he urged, "that is not credible intelligence."

The FBI Director said in the United States, law enforcement is most concerned about lone-wolf individuals inspired by the Islamic State, and he said post 9/11, the intelligence community has gotten very good at tracking these people down and preventing attacks.

Still, Comey urged Americans to be vigilant and speak up if they see or hear anything suspicious.

"Tell us what you saw and then go on living your life while we do our work," he said.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus042649

FBI Director James Comey said Thursday the intelligence community is "not aware of any credible threat" in the U.S. of a Paris-style attack.

He also said they have seen "no connection at all between the Paris attackers and the United States."

Comey said the Islamic State and its supporters put out a lot of propaganda, like the recent videos threatening Washington and New York, but he urged, "that is not credible intelligence."

The FBI Director said in the United States, law enforcement is most concerned about lone-wolf individuals inspired by the Islamic State, and he said post 9/11, the intelligence community has gotten very good at tracking these people down and preventing attacks.

Still, Comey urged Americans to be vigilant and speak up if they see or hear anything suspicious.

"Tell us what you saw and then go on living your life while we do our work," he said.

POOL

Washington, DC - 19 November 2015

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

" We are not aware of any credible threat here of a Paris type attack. And we have seen no connection at all between the Paris attackers and the United States. ISIL and its supporters put out all kinds of propaganda like videos and magazines, but that is not credible intelligence. Of course we investigate all of those propaganda threats, but instead the threats here focused primarily on troubled souls in America who are being inspired or enabled online to do something violent for ISIL. We have stopped a lot of those people this year, especially leading up to July 4th and there are others we worry about and we cover all across the country using all of our lawful tools."

(++white flash between bites++)

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

"Do not let fear become disabling. That is what the terrorists want. They want you to imagine them in the shadows, they want you to imagine them as something greater than they are. Instead, we hope that you will turn fear into healthy awareness of what's around you. If you see something that gives you a bad feeling, tell someone in law enforcement. Since September 11th, we have really worked to get ourselves organized in such a way that if you walk up and tell any police officer in this country or any deputy sheriff in this country that you saw something, didn't seem right, you heard something that didn't seem right, or you read something online that seemed off, that information will get to the right people immediately. You can count on it. And we will check it out. If it's nothing, no harm done but if it was something, great harm may be avoided. Counterterrorism is what you pay us to do. Tell us what you saw and then go on living your life while we do our work. That is channeling fear into something healthy which is awareness of your surroundings and not something disabling. That's what we hope you will do."

SHOTLIST:

POOL - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Washington, DC - February 12, 2015

1. Wide of FBI Director James Comey approaching podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

"With the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, the death of Eric Garner in Staten Island, and the ongoing protests throughout the country, and the assassinations of NYPD officers Wenjin Liu and Rafael Ramos, we are at a crossroads. As a society we can choose to live our lives everyday raising our families, going to work and hoping that someone somewhere will do something to ease the tension, to smooth over the conflict. We can roll up our car windows, turn up the radio and drive around these problems. Or we can choose instead to have an open and honest discussion about what our relationship is today. What it should be, what it could be, what it needs to be."

3. Wide cutaway of Comey seated

4. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

"Something happens to people in law enforcement many of us develop many flavors of cynicism that we work hard to resist because they can be lazy mental shortcuts. For example, criminal suspects routinely lie about their guilt and nearly everybody that we charge is guilty. That makes it easy for some folks in law enforcement to assume that everybody is lying and that no suspect regardless of their race could be innocent. Easy but wrong. Likewise, police officers on patrol in our nation's cities often work in environments where a hugely disproportionate percentage of street crime is committed by young men of color. Something happens to people of good will working in that environment. After years of police work, officers often can't help but influenced by the cynicism they feel, a mental shortcut becomes almost irresistible and maybe even rational by some lights. The two young black men on one side of the street look like so many others the officer has locked up. The two young white men on the other side of the street, even in the same clothes, do not. The officer does not make the same sinister association about the two white guys, whether that officer is white or black, and that drives different behavior."

5. Comey leaving podium

STORYLINE:

The country is at a crossroads on matters of race relations and law enforcement, presenting "hard truths" that must be confronted by both citizens and the police, FBI Director James Comey said Thursday.

Comey used a speech at Georgetown University to offer his most expansive take yet on a debate that has roiled in the nation in recent months about police use of force and interactions with minority communities.

The deaths at the heads of white police officers of Michael Brown in Missouri and Eric Garner in New York, as well as the more recent slayings of two New York police officers, have raised "hard truths" on both sides of the debate.

One is that police officers who work in neighborhoods where most street crime is committed by young black men may be informed by unconscious biases and tempted to make what he called a "mental shortcut"

"The two young black men on one side of the street look like so many others the officer has locked up," Comey said. "Two young white men on the other side of the street, even in the same clothes, do not. The officer does not make the same sinister association about the two white guys, whether that officer is white or black."

But another truth is that minorities in poor neighborhoods too often inherit a "legacy of crime and prison," a cycle he said must be broken to improve race relations with police.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus025919

The country is at a crossroads on matters of race relations and law enforcement, presenting "hard truths" that must be confronted by both citizens and the police, FBI Director James Comey said Thursday.

Comey used a speech at Georgetown University to offer his most expansive take yet on a debate that has roiled in the nation in recent months about police use of force and interactions with minority communities.

The deaths at the heads of white police officers of Michael Brown in Missouri and Eric Garner in New York, as well as the more recent slayings of two New York police officers, have raised "hard truths" on both sides of the debate.

One is that police officers who work in neighborhoods where most street crime is committed by young black men may be informed by unconscious biases and tempted to make what he called a "mental shortcut"

"The two young black men on one side of the street look like so many others the officer has locked up," Comey said. "Two young white men on the other side of the street, even in the same clothes, do not. The officer does not make the same sinister association about the two white guys, whether that officer is white or black."

But another truth is that minorities in poor neighborhoods too often inherit a "legacy of crime and prison," a cycle he said must be broken to improve race relations with police.

POOL

Washington, DC - February 12, 2015

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

"With the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, the death of Eric Garner in Staten Island, and the ongoing protests throughout the country, and the assassinations of NYPD officers Wenjin Liu and Rafael Ramos, we are at a crossroads. As a society we can choose to live our lives everyday raising our families, going to work and hoping that someone somewhere will do something to ease the tension, to smooth over the conflict. We can roll up our car windows, turn up the radio and drive around these problems. Or we can choose instead to have an open and honest discussion about what our relationship is today. What it should be, what it could be, what it needs to be."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, FBI Director:

"Something happens to people in law enforcement many of us develop many flavors of cynicism that we work hard to resist because they can be lazy mental shortcuts. For example, criminal suspects routinely lie about their guilt and nearly everybody that we charge is guilty. That makes it easy for some folks in law enforcement to assume that everybody is lying and that no suspect regardless of their race could be innocent. Easy but wrong. Likewise, police officers on patrol in our nation's cities often work in environments where a hugely disproportionate percentage of street crime is committed by young men of color. Something happens to people of good will working in that environment. After years of police work, officers often can't help but influenced by the cynicism they feel, a mental shortcut becomes almost irresistible and maybe even rational by some lights. The two young black men on one side of the street look like so many others the officer has locked up. The two young white men on the other side of the street, even in the same clothes, do not. The officer does not make the same sinister association about the two white guys, whether that officer is white or black, and that drives different behavior."

Senior US national security officials say they are worried about the potential for violence at the Republican National Convention to be held in Cleveland next week.

During congressional testimony on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said he's concerned that demonstrations outside the convention hall may get out of hand.

Johnson says he will be inspecting the security around the convention hall during a visit on Friday.

He says there are similar concerns about the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia and he will be visiting that site next week.

Johnson told the House Homeland Security Committee there will be 4,000 U.S. government security personnel in Cleveland.

FBI Director James Comey added that anytime there is a large, national event there is concern that radical people and groups may be drawn to it.

Senior US national security officials say they are worried about the potential for violence at the Republican National Convention to be held in Cleveland next week.

During congressional testimony on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said he's concerned that demonstrations outside the convention hall may get out of hand.

Johnson says he will be inspecting the security around the convention hall during a visit on Friday.

He says there are similar concerns about the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia and he will be visiting that site next week.

Johnson told the House Homeland Security Committee there will be 4,000 U.S. government security personnel in Cleveland.

FBI Director James Comey added that anytime there is a large, national event there is concern that radical people and groups may be drawn to it.

Senior US national security officials say they are worried about the potential for violence at the Republican National Convention to be held in Cleveland next week.

During congressional testimony on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said he's concerned that demonstrations outside the convention hall may get out of hand.

Johnson says he will be inspecting the security around the convention hall during a visit on Friday.

He says there are similar concerns about the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia and he will be visiting that site next week.

Johnson told the House Homeland Security Committee there will be 4,000 U.S. government security personnel in Cleveland.

FBI Director James Comey added that anytime there is a large, national event there is concern that radical people and groups may be drawn to it.

POOL

Washington, DC - 14 July 2016

1. House of Representatives members taking seats at House Homeland Security Committee

2. Various of Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security; James Comey, FBI Director, and others sitting before house panel

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security:

"I am concerned about the prospect of demonstrations getting out of hand. I am concerned about the possibility of violence. We have within DHS (Department of Homeland Security) some 3,000 personnel that will be dedicated to the security of the Republican National Convention, and the Democratic National Convention each, consisting of Secret Service, TSA (Transportation Security Administration), Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection. NPPD (National Protection and Programs Directorate), Coast Guard. I know there will be at least another 1,000 or so US government personnel in both places, a number in Cleveland of the Ohio Guard, as well as probably thousands in terms of state and local law enforcement. We have been planning and preparing for both conventions for over a year, as I mentioned earlier. I plan to inspect the security at both sites, Cleveland tomorrow, and Philadelphia next Friday."

4. Various of of House panel

5. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Director:

"So, anytime there's a national spotlight on a political event in the United States, there's a risk that groups that aspire to do just that - to engage in acts of domestic terrorism - will be attracted. It's a threat we're watching very, very carefully. It's the reason we have hundreds of people focused on intelligence and deployed to Cleveland. I don't want to talk about particular groups here, but there is a concern anytime there's an event like this that people from across a spectrum of radical groups will be attracted to it, so we're watching it very, very carefully."

6. Wide of Johnson, Comey and others sitting in front of House panel

US President Donald Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates on Monday after she announced she would not defend his controversial immigration order.

He is naming Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve in her place.

The White House press office said in a statement that Yates "has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States."

The statement calls Yates an Obama administration appointee "who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration."

Trump's order from Friday temporarily suspends the US refugee programme and bars immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Trump has picked Senator Jeff Sessions to lead the Justice Department, but he has yet to be confirmed by the Senate.

POOL

FILE: Washington, DC - 28 June 2016

1. Various of Sally Yates, now former acting US Attorney General speaking at briefing while serving as Deputy Attorney General

POOL

FILE: Washington, DC - 11 January 2017

2. Yates entering news conference with her predecessor as Attorney General, Loretta Lynch

POOL

FILE: Washington, DC - 13 June 2016

3. Yates sitting next to James Comey, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)

US President Donald Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates on Monday after she announced she would not defend his controversial immigration order.

He is naming Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve in her place.

The White House press office said in a statement that Yates "has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States."

The statement calls Yates an Obama administration appointee "who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration."

Trump's order from Friday temporarily suspends the US refugee programme and bars immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Trump has picked Senator Jeff Sessions to lead the Justice Department, but he has yet to be confirmed by the Senate.

POOL

FILE: Washington, DC - 28 January 2017

1. Various of Sally Yates, former acting US Attorney General speaking at briefing while serving as Deputy Attorney General

POOL

FILE: Washington, DC - 11 January 2017

2. Yates entering news conference with her predecessor as Attorney General, Loretta Lynch

POOL

FILE: Washington, DC - 13 June 2016

3. Yates sitting next to James Comey, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)