Lisa Cook lawyer doubts Trump committee's fairness as president calls her 'automatic no vote'

Key points

• Lisa Cook's lawyer doubts the fairness of Trump's committee investigating mortgage fraud allegations against her.
• Trump called Cook 'dishonest' and an 'automatic no vote' on interest rate cuts.
• A White House hearing is scheduled for Nov. 5, but Cook's lawyer says she cannot attend until December.

An attorney for Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook has raised doubts about whether the committee investigating mortgage fraud allegations against her can be fair and objective. The lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said the committee has 'demonstrably biased members' and unspecified additional allegations against Cook.

Lowell wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to Will Scharf, an aide and counsel to President Donald Trump, that these issues must be addressed before any hearing could take place. He said no hearing could occur until at least December, weeks later than the initially scheduled date.

Trump's remarks and White House response

The letter came three days after Trump called Cook 'dishonest' and complained that she was an 'automatic no vote,' apparently referring to her opposition to cutting interest rates. Cook last voted to cut rates in December 2025, siding with the majority. The Fed unanimously voted to raise rates after its most recent meeting in September.

White House spokesman Matthew Middleton said Trump 'is performing his constitutional duty in evaluating Lisa Cook's conduct and eligibility to continue serving as a governor on the Federal Reserve.' Middleton said the President is going beyond what the Supreme Court required by offering Cook an in-person hearing that will be conducted in a fair and open process.

We have significant concerns regarding the objectivity and fitness of the committee

— Abbe Lowell

Hearing schedule and committee concerns

An in-person hearing at the White House is currently scheduled for Nov. 5, according to Trump's Oct. 7 presidential memo establishing the committee of inquiry into Cook. Cook's lawyers did not immediately rule out participating in that hearing and said she 'welcomes the opportunity to present the facts so she can clear her name,' despite their concerns.

But in Tuesday's letter, Lowell said Cook cannot attend a hearing on Nov. 5 because she 'will be executing her official duties as Governor at financial and monetary policy meetings in Europe.' After that, Cook will immediately start preparing for the next meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee in early December. Lowell also said he needs time to speak with Cook about issues raised by the White House's most recent correspondence and to prepare her for any possible hearing, 'which, because of her being in Asia on Federal Reserve duties, cannot be done until she returns.'