ALTERNATIVE FINANCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS ASSOCIATION

Judge rules in favor of Trump over fate of consumer watchdog

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal judge ruled in favor of President Trump on Tuesday in his effort to appoint an acting head of the nation's top financial watchdog agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

In a ruling from the bench, Judge Timothy Kelly declined to stop on an emergency basis the president from putting in place Mick Mulvaney, currently the White House's budget director, as the acting director of the CFPB. In doing so, Kelly ruled against Leandra English, the CFPB's deputy director, who had requested an emergency restraining order to stop Mulvaney from becoming the acting director.

The leadership of the bureau had been thrown into chaos over the weekend after its permanent director, Richard Cordray, resigned and appointed English as his successor. Both Mulvaney and English claimed to be the rightful acting director, with each citing different federal laws.

"The Administration applauds the Court's decision, which provides further support for the President's rightful authority to designate Director Mulvaney as Acting Director of the CFPB," White House spokesman Raj Shah said in a statement.

Kelly was nominated by President Trump and was confirmed by the Senate just a couple months ago in September. Read more at ASSOCIATED PRESS

Federal judge rules that Trump's choice can remain at head of CFPB

A federal judge refused to block President Trump's choice of budget director Mick Mulvaney from serving as acting director of the prominent federal consumer watchdog agency on Tuesday, denying a request by Leandra English, the No. 2 official at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, to serve in his stead.

In denying English's request for a temporary restraining order, U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly acknowledged that the case raised consitutional issues. Former CFPB litigation counsel Deepak Gupta, who represented English, said she would weigh her next step.

"There needs to be an answer from the courts," he said after the ruling. "There needs to be a final answer."

The Trump administration applauded the decision and said it supports its contention that Mulvaney is the rightful acting director.

"It's time for the Democrats to stop enabling this brazen political stunt by a rogue employee and allow Acting Director Mulvaney to continue the Bureau's smooth transition into an agency that truly serves to help consumers," White House spokesman Raj Shah said in a statement.

Kelly, a Trump appointee who joined the federal court in Washington in September, ruled after departing chief Richard Cordray resigned Friday and promoted English, his chief of staff, to deputy director and named her his successor as acting director. Trump responded by naming Mulvaney, triggering an unusual power struggle after English filed a lawsuit late Sunday. 

Read more at THE WASHINGTON POST

Even before court victory, Trump's pick to lead consumer watchdog began reshaping agency

A federal judge on Tuesday refused to block President Trump's pick to be the temporary leader of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, denying a request by a high-ranking agency employee that she be put in charge instead.

In turning down Leandra English's request for a temporary restraining order, U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly acknowledged that the case raised constitutional questions but he ruled that budget director Mick Mulvaney can remain acting director. Former CFPB litigation counsel Deepak Gupta, representing English, said they would weigh their options to resolve an issue they say has left the six-year old agency and its 1,600 employees in legal limbo.

"There needs to be an answer and there needs to be a final answer. There needs to be a resolution of this cloud of impropriety hanging over the bureau," Gupta told reporters after the hearing

The Trump administration applauded the decision and said it supports its contention that Mulvaney is the rightful acting director.

"It's time for the Democrats to stop enabling this brazen political stunt by a rogue employee and allow Acting Director Mulvaney to continue the Bureau's smooth transition into an agency that truly serves to help consumers," White House spokesman Raj Shah said in a statement.          Read more at THE WASHINGTON POST

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