Mick Mulvaney’s Malarkey and Trump’s CFPB Funny Business

By Bret Thompson, Public Citizen

This week, Public Citizen joined allies in protest outside the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). These protests aim to draw attention to a controversial move by President Donald Trump to turn the operation of the organization over to his budget chief, Mick Mulvaney, who has called the CFPB a “sick, sad” joke.

Before he left the position last Friday, former CFPB director Richard Cordray appointed Leandra English to become deputy director. Under the rules of succession laid out under the Dodd-Frank Act, which established the office, she was to become acting director.

However, Trump appointed Mulvaney to the same position hours later, sparking a constitutional crisis. On Monday, both arrived to work, even after English sought an emergency injunction  to bar Mulvaney from continuing in the position.  (Mulvaney tried to sugarcoat his coup by bringing donuts.)

Senator Elizabeth Warren, who originated the idea of the CFPB, spoke at a press conference outside the building today. Employees pressed against the windows overlooking the sidewalk to watch her defend the agency, which has returned nearly $12 billion to over 30 million consumers ripped off by financial institutions.

You can watch our video coverage of today’s rally, as well as Monday’s rally, which featured Rep. Jamie Raskin and Public Citizen President Robert Weissman.

Protecting consumers from being ripped off is not a joke, and Trump’s attempt to bypass the rule of law belongs on the funny pages, not the front page.

Originally posted here.