Establishment of a Committee of Inquiry To Investigate Allegations of False Statements by Lisa DeNell Cook

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 197 (Wednesday, October 14, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 14, 2026)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 65435-65436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21061]



[[Page 65433]]

Vol. 91

Wednesday,

No. 197

October 14, 2026

Part V





The President





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Memorandum of October 7, 2026--Establishment of a Committee of Inquiry 
To Investigate Allegations of False Statements by Lisa DeNell Cook


                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 91 , No. 197 / Wednesday, October 14, 2026 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 65435]]

                Memorandum of October 7, 2026

                
Establishment of a Committee of Inquiry To 
                Investigate Allegations of False Statements by Lisa 
                DeNell Cook

                Memorandum for the Attorney General[,] the Counsel to 
                the President[,] the Assistant to the President for 
                Economic Policy[,] the Director of the Office of 
                Government Ethics[, and] the Chairman of the Equal 
                Employment Opportunity Commission

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, I hereby establish a committee of inquiry 
                (Committee) to investigate allegations that Federal 
                Reserve Governor Lisa D. Cook made false statements in 
                connection with one or more mortgage instruments. The 
                Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the 
                Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity 
                Commission, and the Director of the Office of 
                Government Ethics shall serve as members of the 
                Committee.

                As President, it is my job to ensure the laws are 
                faithfully executed, including by firing subordinates 
                who cannot be trusted to tell the truth and follow the 
                law. U.S. Const. Art. II, sec. 3. To assist me in 
                carrying out that responsibility, the Committee shall 
                investigate the allegations against Governor Cook and 
                report to me whether there is ``cause'' for Governor 
                Cook's removal within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. 242, as 
                construed in Trump v. Cook, 146 S. Ct. 2234 (2026). The 
                Committee may consult with appropriate personnel from 
                executive departments and agencies, including the 
                Department of Justice, to aid in its inquiry. The 
                Committee shall, on November 5, 2026, conduct an in-
                person hearing to consider the evidence and allegations 
                against Governor Cook. The hearing shall occur at the 
                White House and shall last no longer than 4 hours.

                Governor Cook may submit a written position statement 
                to the Committee regarding the allegations, provided 
                the statement is received at least 3 days before the 
                hearing. Governor Cook shall appear at the hearing and 
                be examined by the Committee, its representatives, and 
                her legal counsel, if any. Governor Cook may present 
                argument, written evidence, and written witness 
                statements regarding the evidence and allegations. The 
                Committee may also question Governor Cook about any 
                representations she or her counsel make during the 
                hearing, or it may authorize its representatives, 
                including Department of Justice personnel, to conduct 
                that questioning. The Committee may request documents 
                or other evidentiary submissions from Governor Cook, as 
                appropriate, and Governor Cook shall comply with any 
                such requests.

                Prior to the hearing, the Committee shall provide 
                Governor Cook with the evidence it is considering in 
                its inquiry. At the hearing, the Committee or its 
                representatives may question Governor Cook or her 
                counsel about the evidence and allegations against her. 
                The hearing shall be closed to the public but shall be 
                transcribed.

                Governor Cook may submit a post-hearing written 
                statement to the Committee by November 10, 2026. As 
                soon as practicable after receipt of that statement, 
                the Committee shall submit written findings of fact and 
                conclusions of law to me and shall recommend whether 
                there is cause to remove Governor Cook from her 
                position on the Board of Governors of the Federal 
                Reserve. The Committee may establish additional 
                procedures or make reasonable changes to the above 
                procedures as necessary or appropriate and shall give 
                Governor Cook adequate notice of any such changes.

[[Page 65436]]

                The Counsel to the President shall transmit a copy of 
                this memorandum to Governor Cook, to the members of the 
                Committee, and to the Attorney General.

                The Attorney General is authorized and directed to 
                publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
                <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    Washington, October 7, 2026

[FR Doc. 2026-21061
Filed 10-13-26; 11:15 am]
Billing code 4410-19-P


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