President Trump has ordered a formal White House hearing for Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook following a presidential memorandum establishing a three-member committee to investigate allegations she made false statements connected to mortgage instruments. The committee, comprised of White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chair Andrea Lucas, and acting Office of Government Ethics Director Keith Sonderling, must determine whether the allegations establish legal “cause” for removing Cook from the Federal Reserve Board.

Cook is required to appear in person at the White House on November 5 for a closed hearing limited to four hours. The committee must disclose evidence it intends to consider prior to the hearing, allowing Cook to submit written position statements, present arguments with legal counsel, provide witness statements, and file a final written response by November 10. Only after this process can the committee deliver written findings of fact, legal conclusions, and recommendations to President Trump regarding Cook’s potential removal.

The dispute originated after Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte accused Cook of making conflicting representations about properties on mortgage documents. Cook denies wrongdoing, and prosecutors have not charged her. The White House is pursuing a removal-for-cause process rather than criminal charges, aiming to address procedural concerns identified by the Supreme Court in its earlier decision that allowed Cook to remain in office following a prior removal attempt.

The committee must provide Cook with advance access to evidence, permit her appearance with legal counsel, and accept her final written response before making any recommendation. The hearing marks a decisive effort to resolve whether mortgage-related allegations constitute sufficient grounds for removal under federal law, which permits presidents to remove Federal Reserve governors “for cause.” If the allegations hold up, President Trump would have documented justification for next steps; if not, the process would demonstrate their insufficiency. This formal proceeding ends months of political ambiguity around Cook’s accountability.