Lisa Cook's lawyer challenges impartiality of Trump panel reviewing Fed mortgage allegations

A lawyer for Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook is contesting the fairness of the White House body that will decide whether President Donald Trump has grounds to dismiss her, according to Reuters, which saw a letter dated Oct. 13. Attorney Abbe Lowell objects to National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett serving on it, contending Hassett earlier urged Cook to step aside and hinted that Trump had cause to fire her. Lowell asks that the Nov. 5 hearing be rescheduled, since Cook will be abroad for meetings and unavailable until the Fed's Dec. 8–9 gathering ends, according to Fox Business.

Trump created the three-person panel in an Oct. 7 memorandum. Cook would see the evidence and have up to four hours to defend herself privately before it recommends whether cause exists.

Trump has pursued her ouster since August 2025 over claims she listed homes in Georgia and Michigan as primary residences on separate mortgages. Cook denies fraud, and her lawyers call the Georgia listing inadvertent. In June the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that Trump must give notice and a chance to contest the claims, leaving removal possible.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox Business’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox Business →