Overview

• The CFPB has filed a motion to vacate its 2024 settlement with Townstone Financial, aiming to return the $105,000 penalty paid by the small mortgage lender.
• The case against Townstone was based on allegations of 'redlining' and racial discrimination in marketing, which the company has consistently denied.
• Internal records reviewed by CFPB advisor Dan Bishop revealed alleged animus toward Townstone's political viewpoints and procedural misconduct during the investigation.
• The CFPB's initial enforcement actions included race-conscious remedies, raising questions about their legality under recent Supreme Court rulings advocating race-neutral approaches.
• The motion reflects broader concerns about partisan enforcement within federal agencies and the balance between civil rights enforcement and First Amendment protections.