Overview
- GAO confirmed it accepted the senators’ request, will set the review’s scope and methodology, will coordinate with the FHFA inspector general to avoid duplication, and expects staff to be available to begin in about four months.
- As FHFA chief, Pulte referred New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff, Fed Governor Lisa Cook and Rep. Eric Swalwell to the Justice Department for alleged mortgage fraud, and all have denied wrongdoing.
- A federal judge last month dismissed charges linked to the James referral, and federal prosecutors in Maryland have begun scrutinizing Pulte’s conduct related to the Schiff matter.
- Lawmakers and legal experts are examining whether any access to or public disclosure of mortgage records violated federal privacy protections, including the Privacy Act and the Right to Financial Privacy Act.
- Reporting has detailed internal fallout, including Fannie Mae ethics and legal leadership changes and the ouster of the FHFA’s acting inspector general, while the White House publicly defended Pulte as a key adviser.