Cook’s lawyer said criminal charges against her “fail even on the surface of the facts.”
Published November 17, 2025
Lawyers for Federal Reserve President Lisa Cook offered their first detailed defense of the mortgage application that led to President Donald Trump’s ouster, saying apparent discrepancies in loan documents were either accurate at the time or were “careless representations” that could not constitute fraud given other disclosures to the Fed.
Mr. Cook has denied any wrongdoing, but until Monday, neither Mr. Cook nor his defense team had responded in detail to the fraud accusations, which were first made in August by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pruitt.
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She is challenging her removal in court, and the U.S. Supreme Court has blocked Mr. Trump’s attempt to remove her from office for now, and is scheduled to hear arguments in the case in January.
A Justice Department spokesperson said the agency “does not comment on current or future litigation, including matters that may be investigated.”
In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi seen by Reuters, Cook’s lawyer, Abby Rowell, said the criminal charges brought against her by Pruitt “fail even on a cursory review of the facts.”
The two separate criminal referrals filed by Prut fail to establish that Cook intentionally deceived lenders when he obtained mortgage loans for three properties in Michigan, Georgia and Massachusetts, the letter said.
Lowell also accused Pelt of selectively targeting Trump’s political opponents while ignoring similar allegations against Republican officials, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Mr. Lowell said Mr. Pulte’s other recent actions “undermine his criminal charges regarding Governor Cook.” This action includes the recent firing of FHFA’s acting inspector general and several internal watchdogs at Fannie Mae, one of the largest mortgage lenders under FHFA control.
The letter also cites a recent Reuters article alleging that the White House fired FHFA’s acting inspector general, Joe Allen, shortly after he attempted to provide key discovery materials to federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia, who are pursuing an indictment against New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Even after Palt referred the case to the Justice Department, James was charged with bank fraud and lying to lenders. She has maintained her innocence and is asking for the case to be dismissed on multiple grounds, including retaliatory and selective prosecution.
Mr. Cook’s case is being handled in part by Justice Department pardon attorney Ed Martin, who Mr. Bondi appointed as special assistant U.S. attorney to assist in mortgage fraud investigations against public figures.
The incident is still under investigation and no criminal charges have been filed. The department is also separately investigating Democratic California Sen. Adam Schiff, also at Pruitt’s request.
