Overview

• Lisa Cook’s lawyers filed new briefs denying mortgage fraud, arguing any 2021 inconsistencies were disclosed during her 2022 vetting and do not meet the statutory “for cause” removal standard.
• U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb has not ruled on Cook’s request for a temporary restraining order and set Thursday, Sept. 4, for additional filings from both sides.
• FHFA Director Bill Pulte continues to publicize alleged evidence, including video of Cook’s Michigan property being rented and referrals involving homes in Michigan, Georgia and Massachusetts, while no charges have been filed.
• The Federal Reserve urged the court to resolve the dispute before the Sept. 16–17 FOMC meeting to remove uncertainty about Board governance.
• Nearly 600 economists signed an open letter warning that the effort threatens central bank independence, ECB President Christine Lagarde cautioned of global risks, and some Republican senators questioned whether a vacancy exists while litigation proceeds.