Trump administration files new argument seeking court support for removal of Fed Governor Cook

The U.S. Department of Justice has made new arguments for why President Trump should be allowed to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, calling her claim of a "pretext for interest rate cuts" unfounded. Cook, accused of mortgage fraud, is currently challenging her dismissal. On Thursday, U.S. government lawyers again urged a judge to reject Cook's request to block her removal pending litigation, reinforcing arguments from last week's hearing. The filing came hours after reports that the Justice Department had launched a criminal investigation into Cook. The U.S. government argues that the fraud allegations, first made by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Pulte, constitute sufficient "cause" for Trump to fire her under U.S. law. In Thursday's filing, the Justice Department emphasized that the judge cannot "question" Trump's determination that there is grounds for dismissal, and again rejected his claim that the dismissal was a pretext for taking control of the Federal Reserve and cutting interest rates. "Her only 'evidence' is that the President has criticized Fed policy," the filing states. "But policy disagreements alone do not warrant the President's dismissal." (Jin Shi)