Senators Raise Concerns Over Potential Abuse of Power in Criminal Referrals
Eight Democratic senators have expressed concerns regarding Bill Pulte, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). They have requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate whether Pulte has been using his position to target political opponents of President Donald Trump.
Concerns Over Political Motives
The senators are worried that Pulte's criminal referrals may be driven by political motives rather than justice. They have asked the GAO to examine:
- How Pulte obtained the information used to make these accusations.
- Whether he violated privacy laws by sharing details on social media.
Prominent Figures Targeted
Pulte has publicly expressed his beliefs and referred several prominent Democrats and public officials to the Justice Department for alleged mortgage fraud. These include:
- New York Attorney General Letitia James (indicted).
- Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook (denies any wrongdoing).
Abuse of Power Allegations
The senators also want to know if Pulte used government resources for personal attacks. They highlight that Pulte bypassed the FHFA's inspector general, which is meant to prevent such abuses of power.
Pattern of Political Interference
This is not the first time the Trump administration has been accused of politicizing the justice system. Earlier this month, the White House removed the FHFA inspector general, one of many such officials the administration has dismissed or reassigned.
GAO's Response
The GAO has received the senators' letter and is considering it. Meanwhile, Pulte, the FHFA, and the White House have all declined to comment.
