Sen. Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharEPA delivers win for ethanol industry angered by waivers to refiners It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates Biden marks anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, knocks Trump and McConnell MORE (D-Minn.) said Tuesday that former acting Attorney General Sally Yates "got the best" of Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzLoeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Health care in the crosshairs with new Trump Supreme Court list 'Parks and Rec' cast members hosting special reunion to raise money for Wisconsin Democrats MORE (R-Texas) in an exchange Monday during a Senate hearing.

During the hearing, Cruz questioned Yates closely on the legal grounding for her decision not to defend President Trump's original travel ban as acting attorney general, which eventually led to her firing.

Yates responded by showing her own familiarity with the law, a rejoinder that has been cheered by liberals.

"She was just really amazing. She was so prepared, and I especially enjoyed her exchange with Sen. Cruz," Klobuchar said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

"She clearly got the best of him in explaining what happened the day that she was basically fired from the Justice Department," she continued.

"But also, more importantly, for the discussion today about Russia, really laying out that this was just not a heads-up she gave the White House."

"I especially enjoyed her exchange with Senator Cruz where she clearly got the best of him."



—Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Sally Yates to @MSNBC pic.twitter.com/4xetpEIoi8 — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 9, 2017

ADVERTISEMENT

Yates testified Monday to a Senate Judiciary Committee panel. She came before the committee following several media reports that she had warned the White House that former national security adviser Michael Flynn had been compromised almost three weeks before he resigned.

Yates was fired over a separate matter days after delivering the warning about Flynn.

During the hearing, Cruz needled Yates over her decision to refuse to defend the travel ban, which in part temporarily blocked entry to the U.S. for people from seven Muslim-majority countries.

The Texas senator asked her if she was familiar with a certain part of the Immigration and Nationality Act that gives the president broad authority to decide who can enter the U.S.

Yates shot back that she was equally familiar with another statute that outlaws discrimination in immigration matters on the basis of race or nation of birth, among other things.