Financial documents obtained by NBC News contradict accusations of mortgage fraud against Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Records from a loan summary and Cook’s national security questionnaire indicate the Atlanta property was designated as a “vacation home” and a “2nd home,” respectively. This contradicts claims by figures like Bill Pulte and Donald Trump, who have accused Cook of misrepresenting the property as her primary residence for financial gain. Despite these documents, the Trump administration is still attempting to remove Cook from her role, and a federal judge has temporarily blocked her termination.
Read More
ProPublica’s investigation reveals that the Trump administration, which has vowed to pursue those who misrepresented their primary residences on mortgage applications, could face scrutiny within its own Cabinet. At least three Cabinet members—Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Sean Duffy, and Lee Zeldin—have obtained primary-residence mortgages for multiple properties concurrently. These findings, discovered through financial disclosures and mortgage records, mirror the types of loans that have been cited to target political rivals for potential mortgage fraud. While real estate experts note the practice is common and rarely prosecuted, the administration’s focus on this issue could create a conflict of interest, as some of its own members may have engaged in the same practice.
Read More
An Associated Press review revealed that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his wife, Angela Paxton, secured mortgages with inaccurate statements, claiming multiple properties as primary residences to obtain lower interest rates. This allowed them to improperly benefit from lower rates and potentially violated federal and state laws prohibiting false statements on mortgage documents. Furthermore, the Paxtons collected an improper homestead tax break on two of those homes at the same time. These revelations have political implications, especially given similar accusations against Democrats by the Trump administration and Paxton’s own past legal and political troubles.
Read More
Reports reveal Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his estranged wife, State Senator Angela Paxton, declared three homes as their primary residences on mortgage documents. This could have saved the couple significant money due to lower interest rates on primary homes, potentially raising concerns about mortgage fraud. Experts note that proving such a crime requires demonstrating active knowledge of the false statements. These revelations come shortly after Angela Paxton filed for divorce, citing adultery, adding further complexity to Paxton’s ongoing political career, including his run for U.S. Senate.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker