Lawyers for Fed governor accuse Trump administration of ‘cherry-picking’ facts in fraud case
Lawyers for Lisa Cook, the Federal Reserve governor, called Trump administration allegations of mortgage fraud against her “baseless” on Monday and accused the administration of “cherry-picking” discrepancies to bolster their claims.After accusing Cook of misrepresenting multiple residences as her primary residence to get a better mortgage rate, Donald Trump briefly fired Cook from her role as a Fed governor and as one of 12 voting members of the Federal Reserve board that sets interest rates.The supreme court reinstated her and will in January hear arguments over Cook’s removal.In the letter, addressed to Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, and Edward Martin, the deputy attorney general, Abbe Lowell, Cook’s lawyer, outlined for the first time Cook’s detailed defense against the accusations.Lowell said that the dispute involves three of Cook’s properties: a home in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a condo in Atlanta, Georgia, and a home in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Lowell said Cook’s primary residence is in Ann Arbor, where she has been a professor at Michigan State University since 2005.While she has been on unpaid leave from the position as she serves on the Fed board, she intends to return to Ann Arbor once her post ends, the letter said.Cook was raised in Milledgeville, Georgia – a town outside Atlanta.In 2021, Cook purchased a condo in Atlanta to have a place that is close to her family.Though one line on the mortgage application for the property lists it as a primary residence, Lowell argued that it was clearly “inadvertent” and was an “isolated notation”.
Any proof of criminal wrongdoing must show that Cook had intentionally misrepresented the property to defraud lenders.But other loan documents show Cook said the home was a vacation home, and nowhere else did she say it was her primary residency.In annual financial disclosures, Cook has listed the condo accurately as a “personal residence”, Lowell wrote.For her home in Cambridge, which Cook purchased before she moved to Ann Arbor, Lowell wrote that she has consistently listed the home as a second home and rental property for mortgage documents.In his letter, Lowell specifically criticized William Pulte, a Trump ally and director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), for using his role to help target Trump’s political enemies.
Pulte has also targeted Letitia James, New York’s attorney general, and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, two vocal critics of Trump, for similar accusations of mortgage fraud.“The complete package of Governor Cook’s materials clearly demonstrate that this does not amount to the type of criminal wrongdoing that Director Pulte and the president state it to be,” Lowell wrote.“Governor Cook’s loan documents made clear her intended uses and, therefore, were not submitted with an intent to mislead the lender or anyone else.”Lowell also said that while Pulte said that anyone, Republican or Democrat, should be held accountable for mortgage fraud, recent reporting has found that four members of Trump’s cabinet, including Scott Bessent, the treasury secretary, also had similar discrepancies on their mortgage documents.“His actions undercut his words.
If one seemingly facial contradiction about several property documents were the basis for the mortgage fraud he claims, then one would expect that he would have made referrals to [the justice department] based on the same types of documents about others who appear to have similar or analogous primary residences for more than one home,” Lowell wrote,“Yet, director Pulte has ignored many of those allegations,”
Eli Katoa ruled out of entire 2026 NRL season after head impacts and brain surgery
Melbourne Storm backrower Eli Katoa has been ruled out for the entire 2026 season as he recovers at home in Victoria, having returned from a prolonged stay in Auckland following brain surgery.The 25-year-old suffered three head injuries in one afternoon while playing for Tonga in a Pacific Championship match against New Zealand and suffered seizures while on the sideline, triggering emergency medical attention.A procedure to relieve bleeding on the brain left Katoa in hospital and initially unable to travel back to Melbourne.The Storm revealed on Tuesday that Katoa had finally returned home and was recovering, having also briefly visited a Melbourne hospital.“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our number one priority,” Storm chief executive Justin Rodski said
NRL joins AFL in identifying players it suspects of drug use for testing target ‘list’
The NRL’s in-house spies are collecting intelligence on players they suspect are using drugs, and have sent a list of athletes to Sport Integrity Australia they believe should be targeted for testing.It is a practice also used by the AFL, but with uncertain benefits. Of the 51 names on a list provided by the AFL – as revealed by the Australian National Audit Office in March – just one has returned an adverse analytical finding.The revelations shed light on the practice within the major sporting codes, which are paying the independent integrity agency to collect samples, while also advising on players they suspect are breaching anti-doping rules – a relationship that has drawn concern from federal MPs.Information provided by SIA to a parliamentary inquiry this week confirmed the NRL provides a testing target “list” of names, while other sports also co-operate in a more ad-hoc fashion
Dangerous times lie ahead for NRL as latest skirmish with rugby union ramps up | Nick Tedeschi
The long-awaited R360 threat has finally hit the NRL with Storm fan favourite Ryan Papenhuyzen and Kangaroos three-quarter Zac Lomax quitting their clubs and the sport. While the first salvo has come under the shroud of mystery with neither player revealing their future plans, this war over the elite talent of the NRL is far more likely to escalate than it is to evaporate over the next two years.It is the first truly external threat to the NRL’s hold on its talent in nearly a quarter-century, since a newly professional and cock-a-hoop Rugby Australia (then known as the ARU) used its brief surge in relative popularity – spurred by the public’s disenchantment with rugby league following the Super League War – to sign big-name NRL players Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers and Lote Tuqiri. It is a threat the NRL should take extremely seriously, even if R360’s attempt to sign a host of rugby league stars will not truly cut at the heart of the 13-man game and its ongoing viability.This, of course, is not the first skirmish between the two codes
Money lured Anthony Joshua to circus fight but he could really hurt Jake Paul | Donald McRae
The unsurprising confirmation of “a colossal global showdown” between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua arrived on Monday morning with a dull thud. That grand description of an eight-round scrap between a former YouTuber and a former world heavyweight champion was supplied by Paul’s company, Most Valuable Promotions, which also announced that the contest will be screened live on Netflix on 19 December and called Judgment Day.Boxing operates in a netherworld that appears to have sunk far beyond any fear of judgment, while Paul has always had delusions of grandeur as a novice pro. But even boxing may have to consider its own culpability should Paul be badly hurt and end up in hospital after this fully sanctioned bout with regulation 10oz gloves is held in Miami.Paul is a brilliant hustler and, until now, he has chosen his opponents with deliberate care to avoid excessive danger
Bazball faces its ultimate test as England eye golden Ashes chance
Tourists have a clearly defined identity and optimism, but still need to compete in a manner that earns Australia’s respectWhen Rob Key named Brendon McCullum as England’s head coach in 2022, his quote in the official press release told supporters to “buckle up and get ready for the ride”. Now, with this hot-ticket Ashes series a few days from setting off in sun‑drenched Perth, the mix of fear and excitement among them has arguably never been greater.The difference being that rollercoasters tend to stay on the rails, whereas England tours of Australia often career off them. No one is quite certain which way this one will play out, other than a broad agreement that Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood missing the first Test (at least) presents Ben Stokes and his tourists a golden opportunity.Not that many locals are tipping England
England face wait over fitness of Ollie Lawrence for Argentina Test
England are waiting on the fitness of Ollie Lawrence before their final autumn match with Argentina on Sunday. Lawrence played a major role in the win against the All Blacks on Saturday, but limped off in the closing stages and could be forced to sit out the game at Twickenham. The 26-year-old centre will be assessed when England reconvene on Tuesday after an extra day off.England may also be without Freddie Steward, who was withdrawn midway through the first half against New Zealand with a head injury, as they prepare for 11th successive win and a clean sweep of their autumn fixtures.Lawrence was in fine form against the All Blacks, scoring England’s opening try before teeing up his centre partner, Fraser Dingwall, in the second half
Eight firms under investigation in crackdown on additional online fees
Lawyers for Fed governor accuse Trump administration of ‘cherry-picking’ facts in fraud case
UK consumers warned over AI chatbots giving inaccurate financial advice
Jeff Bezos reportedly launches new AI startup with himself as CEO
The Luka Era begins: inside the transformation powering the post-LeBron Lakers
‘A drug that’s very safe and healthy‘: what ultrarunners can teach us about life | Sean Ingle