Tom Cotton: Trump Should Fire Leandra English, Anyone Who Disobeys Mulvaney

United States Senator Tom Cotton (Republican from Arkansas) makes an announcement on the introduction of the Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy (RAISE) Act in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in... United States Senator Tom Cotton (Republican from Arkansas) makes an announcement on the introduction of the Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy (RAISE) Act in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., 2 August 2017. The act aims to overhaul U.S. immigration by moving towards a "merit-based" system. - NO WIRE SERVICE ' Photo by: Zach Gibson/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images MORE LESS
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Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) said a lawsuit filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau acting director — who was appointed by outgoing CFPB head Richard Cordray — Sunday evening is “just the latest” example of “lawless” behavior by the agency. Cotton also suggested anyone who disobeys President Trump’s pick for the post, Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, should be fired.

“The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is a rogue, unconstitutional agency,” Cotton said in a statement posted on Twitter Monday morning. “Leandra English … doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on, as her own general counsel has conceded and the Department of Justice has concluded. The President should fire her immediately and anyone who disobeys Director Mulvaney’s orders should be fired summarily. The Constitution and the law must prevail against the supposed resistance.”

English, who was appointed as acting director of the agency by Cordray on his way out, filed a lawsuit Sunday night to keep Mulvaney from leading the bureau. In her lawsuit, English cited the Dodd-Frank Act as rationale for what allows her to hold the post until a new director is confirmed by the Senate.

Trump named Mulvaney acting director upon Cordray’s resignation. The White House and the Department of Justice said Trump’s authority surpasses that of the previous director — who was appointed by former President Barack Obama — citing the Vacancies Reform Act.

The agency’s legal counsel has even sided with the White House, saying in a memo obtained by Politico that “the President possesses the authority to designate an acting director for the bureau” and advising all staff to follow Mulvaney’s direction. Both English and Mulvaney were on site Monday, both claiming to run the agency, CNN reported.

Republicans have been vocal critics of the department ever since it was created as a watchdog group for consumers after the 2008 financial crisis. In his previous job as a member of Congress, Mulvaney called the agency a “joke” and is expected to overhaul much of what it has done.

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Notable Replies

  1. Yeah, and the voters should fire you, Senator.

    Let’s talk about firing after we see what the court has to say. You do believe in the rule of law, don’t you, Senator?

  2. I would love to see Leandra English “Take A Knee” in protest.

    Donnie’s head would explode…

  3. Avatar for sanni sanni says:

    And you and your ilk mocked Obama by saying he acted Imperial (due to the use of executive actions). In a hat tip to the Pot meet Kettle allusion - I hearvy declare Tom Cotton the Chief of the Tea Kettle party.

  4. This is the sort of commentary we expect-- and hear-- from 3rd-world Despots like Erdogan in Turkey.

    NOT what we expect in the World’s leading Democracy.

    Oaths by Civil Servants are to the Constitution, NOT the President.

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