Cook's Lawyers Call White House Inquiry Committee 'Biased'

Lawyers for Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook have asserted that a White House committee established to investigate allegations against her is "demonstrably biased." The attorneys, however, did not rule out the possibility of Cook appearing before the panel at a later date.

In a letter sent Tuesday to William Scharf, a counsel to President Donald Trump, lawyer Abbe Lowell stated that Cook would be unable to attend a hearing scheduled for November 5. She is scheduled to be in Europe fulfilling her official duties at financial and monetary policy meetings, the letter explained. According to the letter, the earliest Cook could appear before the "committee of inquiry" would be after the Federal Reserve's policy meeting on December 8-9.

This development is the latest in the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to remove Cook from her position as one of the seven members of the Fed's board of governors. Trump has accused Cook of mortgage fraud dating back to 2021, prior to her joining the board, an allegation she has denied. No criminal charges have been filed against her.

Historically, no president has fired a Federal Reserve governor, a practice that underscores the Fed's traditional independence from political influence. However, President Trump, who has frequently advocated for the central bank to lower its key interest rate, has taken several actions that economists believe have undermined this independence. Earlier this year, the Justice Department initiated an investigation into then-Chair Jerome Powell concerning his testimony about a building renovation, though subpoenas in the case were ultimately dismissed by a judge and the matter was dropped.

Lisa Cook was appointed to the Federal Reserve board by former President Joe Biden and holds the distinction of being the first Black woman to serve on the board.

Trump's initial attempt to remove Cook in August 2025 was unsuccessful. The Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that she could retain her position while legal proceedings continued. In a footnote to that ruling, the court indicated that Trump could re-initiate removal proceedings if the administration provided Cook with adequate notice and an opportunity to respond. The committee of inquiry announced last Friday by the White House is seen as an effort to meet these stipulated conditions.

Under the governing law for the Federal Reserve, a president can only remove a Fed governor "for cause." The Supreme Court's ruling did not determine whether Cook's alleged actions met this standard. A White House memo released last week indicated that the committee of inquiry would make a recommendation on whether sufficient cause exists to remove Cook.

Lowell's letter also expressed "significant concerns regarding the objectivity and fitness of the committee for its assigned purpose." He noted that one of the committee's three members, Kevin Hassett, a senior economic adviser to Trump, has already stated that the president has "cause" to fire Cook. The other two members, Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling and EEOC Chair Andrea Rich, are also Trump appointees.

"A hearing with demonstrably biased members, unspecified additional allegations, and an unclear schedule for the disclosure of any additional evidence – with no explanation for why it was not previously produced – is not a process that respects the appearance or history of independence," Lowell's letter stated.