NEW: DOJ launches criminal probe into Fed Governor Lisa Cook over mortgage fraud allegations

The allegations are centered on whether Cook listed more than one of her properties as her primary residence, which allows for more favorable interest rates on loans when she applied for mortgages.

The investigation follows a criminal referral that was sent to the DOJ by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, and the case is being conducted by Ed Martin.

Martin was appointed by Attorney General Pam Bondi as a as a special assistant US attorney help with mortgage fraud investigations. The DOJ under Trump pursued mortgage fraud allegations against Sen. Adam Schiff (D-NY), New York Attorney General Letitia James, and now Cook in the latest case.

Trump fired Cook in late August amid the allegations that she had committed mortgage fraud as he has also pushed for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to lower the interest rates. Cook, in response to the firing, sued Trump.

“President Trump did not purport to remove Governor Cook for ‘inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office,’ or for any actions that were carried out in the course of other official duties,” the lawsuit from Cook read. “Instead, the letter purporting to fire Governor Cook refers only to the fact that she ‘may have made false statements on one or more mortgage agreements’ in her personal capacity four years ago, before she was a Governor. This allegation about conduct that predates Governor Cook’s Senate confirmation has never been investigated, much less proven.”