The New York Times reports Fed Governor Cook is disputing President Trump's
latest effort to remove her and has questioned the objectivity of a White House
investigation into alleged mortgage fraud. In a letter to the White House,
Cook's lawyer Abe Lowell said she cannot attend a hearing scheduled for Nov. 5
because she will be in Europe for a finance and monetary policy meeting, and
that any hearing would be held no earlier than after the Fed's Dec. 8-9 policy
meeting. Lowell also challenged the probe's neutrality, noting the committee
conducting it is composed of Trump-appointed political officials, including
White House National Economic Council director Hassett. Trump has long pushed to
increase control over the Fed to lower borrowing costs; when asked last Friday
about the probe he called Cook "dishonest" and said he would "absolutely" fire
her if the committee found grounds for removal.
