Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook’s lawyer has criticised US President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to remove her from office, questioning whether a White House inquiry into mortgage fraud allegations can offer a fair hearing. Because of official duties in Europe, cook will also be unable to attend a hearing scheduled for November 5.
Trump has been trying to remove Cook for more than a year. She denies wrongdoing and is fighting to keep her position at the central bank . Lawyer Abbe Lowell raised concerns about the inquiry in a letter to the White House on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
Why can’t Cook attend the November 5 hearing?
In the letter reported by Reuters, he said the earliest she could take part would be after the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting scheduled for December 8 and 9. The lawyer argued that the process must give Cook a fair chance to review the evidence and respond to the claims. However, the ruling left open a route for removal if the administration follows a fair process and establishes sufficient grounds.
One committee member, White House economic policy adviser Kevin Hassett, had previously urged Cook to take leave from her role and suggested Trump had grounds to dismiss her, Lowell said. He said the proposed hearing arrangements did not respect the Federal Reserve’s tradition of independence.
The US Supreme Court previously blocked Trump from removing Cook at will, ruling that a Fed governor must receive appropriate procedural protections.
