WASHINGTON, D.C. – Center for Responsible Lending’s President Mike Calhoun released the following statement tonight after Leandra English, Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump Administration challenging the unlawful appointment of Mick Mulvaney as head of the CFPB:
Instructions under the Dodd-Frank and Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act are plain and simple--if the CFPB Director steps down, the Deputy Director assumes the role of Acting Director until the President nominates, and the Senate confirms, a permanent Director. This unlawful, backdoor approach of appointing Mick Mulvaney as leader of the Bureau circumvents regular order.
The President should nominate someone who can obtain bipartisan support in the Senate, which occurred in 2013 when the first CFPB director received 66 votes. Until the Senate confirms a candidate, Leandra English is the Acting Director of the CFPB. We hope that the federal court acts swiftly and that English is recognized as the lawful head of the Consumer Bureau.
For more information, or to arrange an interview with a CRL spokesperson on this issue, please contact Ricardo Quinto at ricardo.quinto@responsiblelending.org.