Overview
- Cook’s lawyers filed a formal response to the White House on Wednesday denying the mortgage‑fraud allegations and saying any errors on pre‑office mortgage forms were inadvertent, not criminal.
- The White House reopened the removal process with an Aug. 5 notice from Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino that said the president was “considering” firing Cook for alleged false statements on mortgage agreements.
- The dispute began with an August 2025 criminal referral from FHFA Director William Pulte accusing Cook of listing two homes as primary residences on mortgage documents, a claim Cook has long denied.
- The Supreme Court blocked the administration’s first removal last June on procedural grounds, ruling Cook must get notice and an opportunity to respond and leaving open whether the underlying conduct could amount to cause.
- If the White House presses on, immediate further litigation is expected and a successful removal would let the president replace Cook, a move that could shift the Fed board’s balance and affect U.S. interest‑rate policy.