Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, and Committee Democrats sent a letter to Acting Inspector General of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, John Allen, requesting an investigation into the propriety of and the process behind FHFA's allegations into Fed Governor Lisa Cook.

In the letter, Ranking Member Waters and Committee Democrats raise serious concerns about the process behind FHFA’s investigation of Dr. Cook and her mortgage applications, FHFA Director Bill Pulte’s subsequent criminal referrals, and whether these actions were conducted in compliance with federal laws, regulations, and agency procedures. Waters urges the Inspector General to clarify the processes used to acquire, review, and publicly release documents related to Dr. Cook’s mortgage applications.

“We are concerned whether the Federal Housing Finance Agency (‘FHFA’) and in particular Director Pulte has complied with all applicable federal and agency statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures during its acquisition, review, and/or public release of any document related to Governor Dr. Lisa Cook’s mortgage applications and any other mortgage related documents,” wrote the lawmakers. “ Therefore, we request that you review all the circumstances and activities related to the FHFA’s acquisition and review of Governor Dr. Cook’s mortgage applications as well as any announcements, statements, and release of documents related to this matter in order to determine whether any statutory, regulatory, or agency policies may have been violated.”

In conclusion, the letter poses a series of questions regarding the origins of the investigation and whether sensitive information related to Dr. Cook’s mortgage applications was handled lawfully. These concerns highlight the urgent need for full transparency and accountability. 

Full list of co-signers: Maxine Waters (D-CA), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), David Scott (D-GA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Al Green (D-TX), Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Jim A. Himes (D-CT), Bill Foster (D-IL), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Sean Casten (D-IL), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Cleo Fields (D-LA), Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Sam Liccardo (D-CA).

Read the full letter HERE.

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