WASHINGTON — California Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna has urged Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook to disclose her mortgage documents while accusing President Donald Trump of mimicking Richard Nixon’s tactics to meddle with the Federal Reserve.
Khanna made these remarks during an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday. This followed Trump’s decision on Monday to attempt to dismiss Cook, citing claims of mortgage fraud. Cook is legally opposing this dismissal.
The context includes mention of President Richard Nixon, who was known for pressuring the Fed chair to maintain low interest rates before the 1972 election, which Nixon won. He later resigned due to the Watergate scandal.
Trump’s effort to remove Cook is seen as an unusual attempt to influence an independent agency. Democrats criticize it as “authoritarian” and a “power grab,” while Trump accuses Cook of “deceitful and potentially criminal conduct.”
Khanna emphasized the need for transparency from Cook regarding her mortgage allegations but suggested the larger issue is Trump’s pattern of interfering with the Fed. “This isn’t about Lisa Cook,” Khanna noted, “but about Trump following Nixon’s playbook to pressure the Fed.”
He argued that Trump’s tariff policies were standing in the way of the Federal Reserve lowering rates, as Trump has pushed for.
Khanna further added, “The irony lies in Trump’s policies triggering this situation. By repealing blanket tariffs, he could relieve inflationary pressures, allowing the Fed to lower rates.”
Asked again whether Cook should release her mortgage documents to combat allegations of fraud, Khanna agreed.
“Well, sure she should release them,” Khanna said. “She’s should be transparent so that we see that this is just a political football.”
Cook sued Trump on Thursday, arguing his attempt to fire her was “unlawful and void.” Lawyers for Cook and the White House appeared before a judge one day later, though the judge ultimately did not rule on Cook’s request for a temporary restraining order to prevent her from being fired while the case proceeds.
The president has been vocally pushing for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, frequently berating Chair Jerome Powell. The Federal Reserve is set to meet in September to determine whether to lower interest rates.
Trump’s criticism of Cook began after Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte filed a criminal referral against Cook, accusing her of putting false information on mortgage applications before joining the Fed. Pulte filed a second criminal referral last week, accusing her of misrepresenting another property on a mortgage document. Cook’s lawyer hit back, calling the referral “an obvious smear campaign.”
Khanna’s comments come days before Congress is set to return from August recess, gearing up for another high-stakes showdown over files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., are co-sponsoring a bill to make the Trump administration release “all unclassified records” on Epstein. The fight over Epstein roiled Congress so forcefully this summer that House Speaker Mike Johnson began summer recess one day early after Democrats planned to force votes related to Epstein.
The bipartisan duo also plans to host a press conference on Wednesday with “survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s abuse,” according to the press release.
Khanna said Sunday that he is “very confident” his and Massie’s bill will pass. The congressman said that the Wednesday press conference “will be explosive,” adding that “many” of the speakers have not spoken publicly about their experiences before.
“They will be telling their story, and they will be saying clearly to the American public that they want the release of the Epstein files for full closure on this matter,” Khanna said.
