Case Study
The Nomination of Lisa Cook
SUMMARY
While successful and historical, the nomination of Lisa Cook to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors was not without bad-faith conservative attacks demeaning Cook’s background. Cook is a tenured economics professor at Michigan State University (M.S.U.) and has held roles at Harvard and Stanford in addition to visiting roles at multiple Federal Reserve Banks and a position on the White House Council of Economic Advisors Under President Obama. Despite her formidable qualifications, conservative attacks centered around an attempt to paint Cook as underqualified.
Cook was confirmed as the first Black woman on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors on May 10th, 2022 – 118 days after her initial nomination on January 13th, 2022. Since there are only six Federal Reserve Board of Governors members, it’s hard to compare Cook’s nomination process. Cook would have been confirmed two weeks earlier on April 26th had it not been for Democratic absences due to COVID. Cook’s name was first floated for the position as early as February 2021, which gave the conservative apparatus ample time to formulate attacks and lines of inquiry during hearings.
These attacks seem to originate from an independent investigative journalist and Daily Caller contributor, Christopher Brunet, working via a Substack page titled “Karlstack Economics.” Brunet began looking into Cook in the Spring of 2021, and immediately started questioning her qualifications for the position saying if Cook “were an Asian male economist, she would be laughed out of any school in the top 200.” The Daily Caller and Tucker Carlson picked up Brunet’s reporting in February 2022. The following month Brunet released a copy of Cook’s tenure packet, doubling down on his assertion that Cook was unqualified.
At the same time, the conservative opposition research firm the American Accountability Foundation (A.A.F.) started to boost Brunet’s reporting on Twitter and released video clips of Cook speaking out of context on Zoom calls. The A.A.F. is a non-profit Republican opposition research firm founded by former Senate staffers for Republican Jim DeMint, who now runs the Conservative Partnership Institute (C.P.I.). Notably, C.P.I. is listed as the “care of name” on the A.A.F.’s founding tax form. Since the A.A.F. was founded in January 2021, little is known about its funding sources. Nevertheless, the A.A.F. began with around $600,000 in funding, and projects to have over $1 million in funding in subsequent years.
The attacks against Cook’s qualifications culminated in Senator Hagerty calling for Cook’s background to be investigated. However, any such investigation did not end up happening as Cook was successfully confirmed weeks later.
Nomination Timeline and Initial Reception
Confirmation Timeline
*Note: This nomination could not be compared to department averages because it is an appointment to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and not a typical cabinet appointment
The White House: “President Biden Nominates Sarah Bloom Raskin to Serve as Vice Chair for Supervision of the Federal Reserve, and Lisa Cook and Philip Jefferson to Serve as Governors.” “Today, President Biden announced the nomination of Sarah Bloom Raskin to serve as Vice Chair for Supervision of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the nomination of Lisa Cook and Philip Jefferson to serve on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.” [The White House, 1/14/22]
- Cook Was First Floated As A Potential Fed Nominee In Early 2021. “Economists Lisa Cook and William Spriggs have the backing of several key White House officials and allies as possible choices for President Joe Biden to fill a vacancy on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, according to people familiar with the matter. The White House has not contacted either for formal vetting or interviews, the people said. They asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.” [Bloomberg, 2/10/21]
Lisa D. Cook Is An Economics Professor At Michigan State University, And Previously Had Roles At Harvard And Stanford. “Lisa D. Cook is Professor of Economics and International Relations at Michigan State University. […] Prior to this appointment, she was on the faculty of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, Deputy Director for Africa Research at the Center for International Development at Harvard University, and a National Fellow at Stanford University.” [Lisa D. Cook Bio and CV, Accessed 6/13/22]
- Lisa Cook Served On The White House Council Of Economic Advisors Under Obama And Has Had Visiting Roles At Multiple Federal Reserve Banks. “During the 2011-2012 academic year, she was on leave at the White House Council of Economic Advisers under President Obama and has had visiting appointments at the National Bureau of Economic Research, the University of Michigan, and the Federal Reserve Banks of New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia.” [Lisa D. Cook Bio and CV, Accessed 6/13/22]
- Lisa Cook Serves On Numerous Boards And Is A Member Of The Council On Foreign Relations. “She serves on the Advisory Boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (Academic Advisory Council), the National Science Foundation (Social and Behavioral Sciences), the Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation of the Smithsonian Institution. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.” [Lisa D. Cook Bio and CV, Accessed 6/13/22]
- Lisa Cook Served On The Biden-Harris Transition Team. “Dr. Cook is currently serving as the Deputy Team Lead for the Federal Reserve, Banking, and Securities Regulators Agency Review Team on the Biden-Harris Transition team” [Lisa D. Cook Bio and CV, Accessed 6/13/22]
Cook Had A Hard Time Getting Her Paper About Racial Differences In Patent Filings Published, With Peer Reviewers Calling Her Work “Niche.” “For example, economist Dr. Lisa Cook through historical research on patents in the 19th and 20th centuries found that violence toward African Americans led to fewer patent filings, less innovation, and lower-economic growth in the Unites States. Her work, when finally published, was considered groundbreaking scholarship within entrepreneurship and innovation. She struggled, however, for nine years, to get the work published. Peer reviewers rejected the paper, questioning what she meant by “former slave,” questioning her argument about the emotional impact of racial violence and calling the work “niche.”” [Kauffman Foundation, 4/25/22]
Peers Told Cook That If She Pursued Scholarship Related To African Americans Or Women She Would Not Get Tenure. “…if I pursued anything that related to African Americans or women, say patents related to African Americans or women, that I would never get tenure. Nobody wants to hear just about women. They sure don’t want to hear about black people, so you won’t get tenure just focusing on patents for women and African Americans.” [NPR, 6/11/20]
Cook’s Nomination Was Generally Well Received By Mainstream Outlets, Highlighting Her Status As Potentially The First Black Woman To Be On The Federal Reserve Board Of Governors
New York Times Headline: “The White House Nominates A Diverse Slate Of Candidates To The Fed Board.” “He also nominated Lisa Cook, an economist at Michigan State University who has researched racial disparities and labor markets, and Philip Jefferson, an economist and administrator at Davidson College, to governor positions. Both are Black.” [New York Times, 1/14/22]
- Michigan State University: “MSU’s Lisa Cook Elected To Federal Reserve Bank Of Chicago Board.” [MSU, 1/12/22]
- Associated Press Headline: “Biden Nominates 3 For Fed Board, Including First Black Woman.” [Associated Press, 1/14/22]
NPR Headline: “There Is A Reshuffling Underway At The Federal Reserve.” “…the White House is looking at two academics – Lisa Cook of Michigan State and Phil Jefferson, who’s now dean of faculty at Davidson College. Both of them are Black. So if these three are nominated, and confirmed by the Senate, of course, the Fed board will for the first time have more women than men and more than one Black governor.” [NPR, 1/10/22]
Politico Headline: “Biden Moves To Remake The Fed.” “Biden’s new Fed would be the most diverse ever, with four women on the seven-member board and its first woman of color with Cook. “This group will bring much needed expertise, judgment and leadership to the Federal Reserve while at the same time bringing a diversity of thought and perspective never before seen on the board of governors,” Biden said in a statement announcing the nominations.’” [Politico, 1/14/22]
Banks And Advocacy Groups Rallied Around Cooks Nomination, As Did Democratic Officials
American Prospect Headline: “Three Great Fed Appointees, Led by Sarah Bloom Raskin.” “Sarah Bloom Raskin will replace the anti-regulation Randy Quarles on the Fed’s Board of Governors as vice chair for supervision, as part of a new 4-to-3 progressive majority. The other two excellent nominees are economists Lisa Cook and Philip Jefferson, both African American, creating the most progressive and diverse Federal Reserve ever.’” [American Prospect, 1/14/22]
Positive Reception By Industry Groups
Banks, Government Leaders, And Advocacy Groups Urged Senate To Quickly Confirm Biden’s Fed Nominees. “These leaders praised Sarah Bloom Raskin, Lisa Cook, and Philip Jefferson for the depth of their extensive experience, their diverse backgrounds, and their commitment to the dual mandate of the Federal Reserve.” [UCSB American Presidency Project, 2/2/22]
Wall Street MWBE Leader Stands in Support of Candidacy of Lisa D. Cook as Federal Reserve Governor. “Suzanne Shank, President and CEO of Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC, issued the following statement today in support of Dr. Lisa D. Cook’s nomination to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.” [Global Newswire, 1/14/22]
Americans For Financial Reform: “The Senate Should Confirm [Biden’s Federal Reserve Nominees] To Their Posts As Soon As Possible.” “President Biden’s nomination of the highly qualified Sarah Bloom Raskin, Lisa Cook, and Philip Jefferson to the Federal Reserve Board is a very welcome step forward towards a better-regulated Wall Street, which remains vital for protecting financial stability and building a more just and sustainable economy. The Senate should confirm them to their posts as soon as possible.” [AFR, 1/14/22]
Third Way: “Third Way applauds President Biden for his nomination of Dr. Lisa Cook, Sarah Bloom Raskin, and Dr. Phillip Jefferson to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.” “Dr. Lisa Cook brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Fed, with research in many areas important to the dual mandate of maximum employment and price stability. Her work on income inequality will inform the assessment of impacts associated with the implementation of monetary policy.” [Third Way, 1/14/22]
National Community Reinvestment Coalition: “NCRC Applauds Nomination of Sarah Bloom Raskin for Federal Reserve Board Vice Chair for Supervision, and Lisa Cook and Philip Jefferson as Governors.” “We’re also encouraged by the nominations of Lisa Cook and Philip Jefferson to serve as Fed Governors. Both come with extensive economic policy-making experience, and as African Americans, they will make the Fed a more representative institution and, I hope, one that goes deeper and achieves more to address the nation’s enduring racial economic divide.” [NCRC, 1/14/22]
National Fair Housing Alliance: “The Senate Should Move To Quickly Confirm All Three Nominees.” “We applaud President Biden’s nomination of Dr. Lisa D. Cook and Dr. Philip Jefferson to serve on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and Sarah Bloom Raskin, Esq., to serve as Vice Chair for Supervision of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.” [NFHA, 1/14/22]
AFL-CIO: “Senate Must Confirm President Biden’s Nominees to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.” “Additionally, we recognize the importance of President Biden nominating two Black economists to the board. Though Cook is best known for her background in international economics, she also is recognized widely for her work on racial inequality. Jefferson has a strong Federal Reserve background and has done pioneering work on how monetary policy can have disparate impacts on low-wage workers.” [AFL-CIO, 1/14/22]
American Bankers Association: “We Congratulate Sarah Bloom Raskin, Lisa Cook And Philip Jefferson On Their Nominations To Serve On The Federal Reserve Board.” We congratulate Sarah Bloom Raskin, Lisa Cook and Philip Jefferson on their nominations to serve on the Federal Reserve Board. If confirmed, all three would be joining the board at an important moment for our economy given the ongoing pandemic, the recent rise in inflation and other challenges.” [American Bankers Association, 1/14/22]
Public Citizen: “These Are Excellent Choices To Put Ordinary Americans Above The Interests Of Wall Street.” “Sarah Bloom Raskin and Lisa Cook bring outstanding experience and expertise, plus a willingness to take on tough challenges,” said Arkush. “The nominations are also historic, making the Fed Board more representative of the country.” [Public Citizen, 1/14/22]
Star Democrat: “Biden Proposes Saddling An Already Struggling Federal Reserve With Two Political Activists.” “Putting Cook on the Fed’s board would be a travesty akin to President George W. Bush’s 2005 nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. Raskin, of the Duke University School of Law, has different monomania: “climate risk” threatening the financial system.” [Star Democrat, 1/29/22]
Barrons: “Lisa Cook, Expert On Racism’s Economic Scars, Now Biden Fed Pick.” “A researcher focused on how discrimination has harmed the American economy and the damage downturns do to the poor, Lisa Cook would bring a new perspective to the US central bank.” [Barrons, 2/2/22]
Positive Reception By Officials
Law 360: “Sen. Brown Aims For Quick Action On Biden’s Fed Picks.” [Law 360, 1/18/22]
Congressman Dan Kildee Press Release: “Michigan Democratic Congressional Delegation Applaud President Biden’s Nomination Of Lisa Cook To Federal Reserve Board.” “Representatives Dan Kildee (MI-05), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Andy Levin (MI-09), Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) today released the following statement after President Joe Biden nominated Michigan State University distinguished professor Dr. Lisa D. Cook to the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors.” [Dan Kildee Newsroom, 1/14/22]
Governor Whitmer Called Cook “One Of The Preeminent Economists In The Country.” “Lisa Cook is one of the preeminent economists in the country, an esteemed Spartan professor, and mentor to countless young women. I am thrilled that President Biden has nominated her to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.” [Michigan Government Website, 1/14/22]
Joint Economic Committee Democrats Statement Uplifted Raskin, Cook, And Jefferson Nominations. “The depth of experience and diversity of perspectives that Sarah Bloom Raskin, Lisa Cook and Philip Jefferson would bring to the direction of the Federal Reserve System are essential to ensuring a broadly shared recovery and promoting sustained economic growth.” [JEC, 1/14/22]
Rep. Waters Said That Cook’s Confirmation Would Be “Historic.” “If confirmed by the Senate, these appointments would be historic, with the first Black woman to ever serve on the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) in the central bank’s 108-year history, as well as the fourth Black man to serve on the Federal Reserve Board, and the first woman to serve as Vice Chair for Supervision.” [Financial Services Committee, 1/14/22]
Senator Stabenow Said That Lisa Cook Is The “Right Person For The Job.” “Dr. Lisa Cook is the right person at the right time to serve at the Federal Reserve. I’m glad President Biden recognized this. […] Dr. Cook’s perspective and experience is unmatched and will be instrumental in our nation’s recovery.” [Stabenow Newsroom, 1/14/22]
Senator Coons Applauded Cook’s Nomination: “I congratulate President Biden on his excellent choice of nominee, and I encourage my Senate colleagues to ensure Professor Cook’s nomination is smooth and swift.” [Coons Newsroom, 1/14/22]
Senator Reed Called Cook “Extremely Impressive.” “Sarah Bloom Raskin, Lisa Cook, and Philip Jefferson are extremely impressive, highly-qualified nominees. I am confident they will help lead a strong, independent Fed forward at a critical moment.” [Reed Newsroom, 2/2/22]
Rep. Dingell Said Cook Was A “Class Act” “Dr. Lisa Cook is a class act and knows the ins and outs of economics across all sectors. […] She is also a beloved constituent residing in Ann Arbor, and I’m proud to have worked with the Administration on her nomination. She will be an excellent addition to the Board of Governors, and I wish her nothing but success and strength on this journey.” [Dingell Newsroom, 1/14/22]
Negative Response From Right-Wing Media and Senators
The Daily Mail Called Biden’s Fed Nominee’s “Woke,” While Toomey Approached The Nomination With Hesitation
Daily Mail: Biden’s Woke Federal Reserve Nominees. “The Massachusetts-born economist has also spoken about the economic and financial stability risks tied to climate change, and could, at the Fed, demand changes in how institutions weigh and disclose climate change policies. ‘There is no longer any doubt that climate change will continue to impose deep economic and financial costs on households, communities, businesses, and entire countries,’ she wrote in a September article for Project Syndicate. ‘Many of these risks can still be mitigated, but only if regulators in the United States break some bad habits.’” [Daily Mail, 1/14/22]
Senator Toomey Statement: “Members of the Fed’s Board of Governors should have exceptional qualifications and a strict view of the Fed’s narrow mandates on monetary policy and banking supervision. I will closely examine whether Ms. Cook and Mr. Jefferson have the necessary experience, judgment, and policy views to serve as Fed Governors.” [Toomey Press Release, 1/13/22]
Republicans And Conservative Outlets Ramped Up Attacks And Solidified Their Main Line Of Inquiry Into Cook Before And During Her Hearing
Ahead Of Hearing, The Daily Caller Previewed Attacks On Cook’s CV, First Mentioned By A Researcher At The Jain Family Institute
Daily Caller Headline: “Senate Banking Committee Prepares For Showdown Over Fed Nominees.” “‘I have on solid sourcing at least one Republican US Senator will ask [Lisa Cook] to explain her CV,’ writes Claudia Sahm, director of macroeconomic research at the Jain Family Institute. ‘She is going to get asked by a US Senator about her CV because of [the Daily Caller News Foundation],’ wrote Sahm in another tweet, once again referring to a DCNF investigation that found many economists view Cook as unqualified.” [Daily Caller, 2/2/22]
Detroit News Headline: “GOP Senators Scrutinize Federal Reserve Nominee Lisa Cook, An MSU Economist.” “Her nomination last month was lauded by bankers, former Federal Reserve governors and top-tier economists. But some conservatives said they’re concerned she would politicize the nonpartisan board, pointing to “left-wing” social media posts, support for reparations for slavery and tweets advocating for Democratic politicians.” [Detroit News, 2/3/22]
Americans For Tax Reform: “Americans For Tax Reform Leads Coalition Letter Opposing Federal Reserve Nominees.” ”The organizations strongly oppose the nominations of Sarah Bloom Raskin and Lisa Cook to serve on the board of the Federal Reserve and urge senators to vote against their confirmation.” [ATR, 2/3/22]
Tucker Carlson Said Lisa Cook Had “No Relevant Qualifications” For Her Nomination. “And yet Joe Biden has picked someone who has no relevant qualifications at all. Her name is Lisa Cook. She would be maybe a little too radical for a show on MSNBC, but possibly a guest in the afternoon.” [Fox News, Via Nexis, 2/4/22]
Senator Toomey Statement: “Fed Nominees Are A Referendum On The Fed’s Independence.” “Senator Toomey said that while global warming, social justice, and education policy are important issues, they are wholly unrelated to the Fed’s limited statutory mandates, and should be left up to elected representatives who are accountable to the American people—not unelected central bankers.” [Toomey Press Release, 2/3/22]
Senator Hagerty Statement: “Cook Fails To Explain Her Experience Related To Monetary Policy.” “In a question to Lisa Cook, a nominee to be a member of the Board who appears to have made a number of omissions and mischaracterizations in the paperwork she submitted to the committee, Hagerty inquired about her economic experience and expressed his belief that the Biden Administration should have nominated someone with far deeper experience in monetary policy.” [Hagerty Press Release, 2/3/22]
Philadelphia Tribune Headline: “Lisa Cook Could Soon Become The First Black Woman On The Fed. Republicans Say She’s Not Qualified.” “Republican senators have attacked President Biden’s historic nomination of a Black woman to the Federal Reserve, calling her “fundamentally not qualified” and setting the scene for a tense nomination hearing Thursday in the Senate.” [Philadelphia Tribune, 2/3/22]
The White House And Centrist Democrats Worked To Support Cook’s Nomination In The Face Of Conservative Attacks
Reuters Headline: “White House Mobilizes ‘War Room’ To Boost Fed Nominees As Attacks Pile Up.” “After an earlier nominee for a top U.S. banking regulation post was torpedoed, White House officials are determined not to let it happen again and have circled around President Joe Biden’s nominees for three top Federal Reserve jobs.” [Reuters, 2/2/22]
American Banker Headline: “Fed Nominees Pressed By Republicans, Get Support From Centrists.” “Three White House nominees for the Federal Reserve Board received a warm welcome from the Senate Banking Committee’s Democrats and emerged relatively unscathed from Republican attacks on Thursday.” [American Banker, 2/3/22]
Source of Right-Wing Attacks on Cook
On June 3rd 2021, Self-Proclaimed Investigative Journalist Christopher Brunet First Mentioned Cook And Questioned Her Qualifications For The Federal Reserve As Cook’s Name Was Floated. “So, who is Lisa Cook? Just a random economist at Michigan State University who has shamelessly leveraged her skin color and genitalia into gaining the backing of several key White House officials as the probable choice for President Joe Biden’s next nominee for an open seat on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.” [Karlstack Economics, 6/3/21]
- Brunet Said If Cook “Were An Asian Male Economist, She Would Be Laughed Out Of Any School In The Top 200.” “Just how unqualified is she? Glad you asked. Please go look at her CV yourself, which shows that based on merit she’s not even qualified to be a visiting staff economist at the Fed, let alone serve on the Board of Governors. In fact her publication record in econ/finance journals is clearly insufficient for tenure — much less full professor — at MSU (rank ~30). If she were an Asian male economist, she would be laughed out of any school in the top 200. She’s not even a macroeconomist! This isn’t her area!” [Karlstack Economics, 6/3/21]
Brunet Graduated From Carelton University In 2016 And Obtained A Master’s From Western University In 2018. [LinkedIn, Accessed 6/15/22]
- Brunet Worked As A Research Assistant At UChicago Before Launching His Substack. [LinkedIn, Accessed 6/15/22]
The Daily Caller Picked Up Brunet’s Reporting In Early 2022. “So, who is Lisa Cook? Just a random economist at Michigan State University who has shamelessly leveraged her skin color and genitalia into gaining the backing of several key White House officials as the probable choice for President Joe Biden’s next nominee for an open seat on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.” [Daily Caller, 1/20/22]
- …As Did Tucker Carlson. A clip of Tucker Carlson Tonight posted by the Daily Caller identifies Chris Brunet by name as the source of Cook’s CV discussions. [Daily Caller, Via Twitter, 2/4/22]
On March 27, Brunet Obtained A Copy Of Cook’s Tenure Packet. “Why am I leaking this document? I love economics, and her nomination destroys the reputation of the field. Lisa Cook is underqualified, she faked her only good paper, and history shows she is very much at ease with falsehoods. Integrity matters. There was a time when a lack of honour disqualified a man for office. Hence, I morally object.” [Karlstack, 3/27/22]
Brunet Takes Credit For Senator Hagerty’s Calls To Investigate Cook. “Senator Hagerty is the second most powerful of the twelve Republican senators currently sitting on the Senate Banking Committee, so this isn’t just some random guy. […] This is a victory for independent journalism / Karlstack, so I felt it was worth writing up a short post to celebrate.” [Karlstack, 4/10/22]
The American Accountability Foundation Began Their Twitter Campaign Against Cook In January 2022 With A Series Of Video Clips
The American Accountability Foundation Posted Video Of Cook Discussing Trump In January 2022. “Biden Fed nominee Lisa Cook can’t hide her radical opinions. In 2020, she claimed that President Trump was “definitely a fascist” and said he put the U.S on the path to genocide. We can’t trust her to ethically and impartially serve the American people.” [AAF, via Twitter, 1/20/22]
- The American Accountability Foundation Posted Video Of Cook Calling “NASCAR Folks” Uneducated. “WATCH: Biden Fed nominee Lisa Cook’s thoughts on uneducated “NASCAR folks.” Coming from the same nominee who called Trump a “fascist” and the United States “systematically racist.”” [AAF, via Twitter, 1/20/22]
- The American Accountability Foundation Posted Video Of Cook’s Allegedly “Anti-Police Rhetoric.” “Aside from her anti-police rhetoric and racist comments, Fed nominee Lisa Cook even bailed out rioters who burned down American cities last summer.” [AAF, via Twitter, 1/21/22]
The American Accountability Foundation Created Anti-Cook Digital Assets And Disseminated Them On Twitter.
[AAF, via Twitter, 1/21/22]
[AAF, via Twitter, 1/24/22]
By March 2022, AAF Had Picked Up Brunet’s Reporting Of Cook And Began Signal Boosting
The American Accountability Foundation Picked Up Brunet’s Reporting Of Cook’s Tenure Packet Within A Day. “Important research from @realChrisBrunet on the seriously problematic academic issues associated with @drlisadcook.” [AAF, via Twitter, 3/28/22]
- The American Accountability Foundation Called Cook’s Nomination A “Vetting Fail.” “More details. Another vetting fail at the White House or do they just not care that @MSUEconomics did not believe @drlisadcook ‘s scholarship was up to the standards of the dept?” [AAF, via Twitter, 3/28/22]
The American Accountability Foundation Signal Boosted Brunet’s Reporting In April 2022, And Said They’ve Spoken To “Whistleblowers” About Cook’s Academic Career. “Massive news and accountability incoming for @drlisadcook who has reportedly lied and failed her way to the top. She has 0 experience! We have been told by whistleblowers that she was denied promotion by her peers for lying on her professional resume. @SenatorHagerty” [AAF, via Twitter, 4/11/22]
Public Reporting Identified AAF As A Lead Aggressor Against Cook
AAF Led A “Racist Smear Campaign” Against Biden’s Federal Reserve Board Of Governors Nominee Lisa Cook. “The conservative American Accountability Foundation tweets opposition research about Biden nominees. It’s gone after Cook for saying she donated to bail funds ― charities that help low-income people pay bail to get out of jail while they await trial. AAF spun it by saying Cook “bailed out rioters who burned down American cities last summer.” And it also has hit her for saying that there is still “systemic racism” in this country, saying that makes her unfit to serve at the Fed.” [HuffPost, 1/28/22]
- Cook Would Be The First Black Woman To Sit On The Board. “This time they’re going after Lisa Cook, a professor of economics and international relations at Michigan State University. If confirmed by the Senate, she would be the first Black woman to serve on the Federal Reserve’s seven-member board of governors.” [HuffPost, 1/28/22]
The American Accountability Foundation Is Working To Undermine Lisa Cooks Nomination To The Federal Reserve Board Of Governors. “Currently, the group is waging a negative campaign against Lisa Cook, who, if confirmed, would become the first Black woman to serve on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors.” [The New Yorker, 4/16/22]
The American Accountability Foundation Launched Racially Charged Attacks On Lisa Cook. “Some of the A.A.F.’s attacks on Cook carried racial overtones. Cook had made donations to bail funds for impoverished criminal defendants, including racial-justice protesters who had been arrested; she was following a tradition of activist lawyers in her family, and considered it a form of charity. The A.A.F. argued on Twitter that she had made “racist comments” and “even bailed out rioters who burned down American cities.” Cook’s reputation was sullied enough that the Senate Banking Committee vote on her nomination resulted in a tie, with no Republicans supporting her.” [The New Yorker, 4/16/22]
The American Accountability Foundation Solicited Criticism Against Cook From Colleagues. “But her critics haven’t given up. The American Accountability Foundation — a conservative opposition research firm that pushed attacks on Raskin, Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson and other White House nominees — has been soliciting criticism from Cook’s colleagues at Michigan State in recent weeks. AAF co-founder Matthew Buckham wrote to dozens of MSU economics faculty asking for information about the circumstances of Cook’s 2013 tenure promotion, according to emails obtained by POLITICO. He also pointed to comments criticizing Cook’s promotion on the Economics Job Market Rumors website — an online forum that one prominent economist once referred to as “a cesspool of misogyny.”” [Politico, 3/29/22]
- The American Accountability Foundation Scoured Misogynistic Forums For Dirt On Nominees. “Meanwhile, Jones fished for further information by posting a message on an anonymous online gossip forum, Economics Job Market Rumors, which has been decried by one prominent economist as “a cesspool of misogyny.”” [The New Yorker, 4/16/22]
American Accountability Foundation Engages In “Guerilla-Style Tactics” And Manages Two “Watchdog” Websites
The American Accountability Foundation (AAF) Is An Opposition Research Organization With “Guerilla-Style Tactics.” “…the AAF differs from other opposition groups by not being client-based, and instead is focused on causing trouble for the new administration. It was set up only in March but has already made headlines, in part due to its guerilla-style tactics.” [Fox News, 4/13/21]
The American Accountability Foundation Claims Credit For Derailing The Nominations Of Saule Omarova, Sarah Bloom Raskin, And David Chipman. “Among the nominees the group boasts of having successfully derailed are Saule Omarova, a nominee for Comptroller of the Currency, and Sarah Bloom Raskin, whom Biden named to be the vice-chair for supervision of the Federal Reserve Board. David Chipman, whom the President wanted to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and David Weil, Biden’s choice for the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor, both saw their nominations founder in the wake of A.A.F. attacks.” [The New Yorker, 4/16/22]
‘Congressional Pork Map, An Effort To Smear Members Of Congress As Corrupt, Is A Project Of The American Accountability Foundation.
[PorkMap.com, Accessed 3/17/22]
‘BidenNoms.com,’ An Effort To Sink Biden’s Nominees, Is A Project Of The American Accountability Foundation.
[BidenNoms.com, Accessed 3/17/22]
American Accountability Foundation Was Founded In 2021 With Millions In Funding And A Sizable Budget— AAF Estimated That It Needed $750,000 In 2021
The American Accountability Foundation Was Founded In January 2021.
[American Accountability Foundation IRS Form 1023, 1/25/21, Page 41]
AAF Expected To Operate On A $750,000 Budget, And Declined To Disclose Its Donors. “It expects to operate on a $750,000 budget this year, a spokesperson told Axios. During the interview, Jones and Buckham declined to identify any of their donors.” [Axios, 9/13/21]
The American Accountability Foundation Was Founded With $600,000 In Funding For 2021, $1 Million For 2022, And $1.5 Million For 2023.
[American Accountability Foundation IRS Form 1023, 1/25/21, Page 13]
American Accountability Foundation Conducted Opposition Research Against Biden Nominees And Coordinated With The NRA To Sink Nominees
The American Accountability Foundation (AAF)’s Initial Programmatic Focus Was Lower-Level Biden Appointees. “[Thomas Jones] said the AAF has been focusing on Biden appointees who are just below Cabinet position, something he said that has been neglected by more traditional conservative organizations.” [Fox News, 4/13/21]
The American Accountability Foundation Is A Nonprofit Opposition Research Organization Whose Explicit Purpose Is To Sink Biden Nominees. “An explicit purpose of the A.A.F.—a politically active, tax-exempt nonprofit charity that doesn’t disclose its backers—is to prevent the approval of all Biden Administration nominees.” [The New Yorker, 4/16/22]
The American Accountability Foundation’s Usually Targets Women Nominees And Nominees Of Color. “The A.A.F., which is run by conservative white men, has particularly focused on blocking women and people of color. As of last month, more than a third of the twenty-nine candidates it had publicly attacked were people of color, and nearly sixty percent were women.” [The New Yorker, 4/16/22]
The American Accountability Foundation Targets Lower-Level Appointees As Well. “And the A.A.F. hasn’t just undermined nominees for Cabinet and Court seats—the kinds of prominent people whose records are usually well known and well defended. It’s also gone after relatively obscure, sub-Cabinet-level political appointees, whose public profiles can be easily distorted and who have little entrenched support.” [The New Yorker, 4/16/22]
American Accountability Foundation Is Closely Tied To The Conservative Partnership Institute, A Conservative Group Founded By Ex-Heritage Foundation Head Jim DeMint, Which Shares High Profile Staff With AAF
The American Accountability Foundation’s IRS Form 1023 Lists The Conservative Partnership Institute As Its “Care Of Name” And The Two Organizations Share An Address
The American Accountability Foundation’s IRS Form 1023 Lists The Conservative Partnership Institute As Its “Care Of Name.”
[American Accountability Foundation IRS Form 1023, 1/25/21, Page 1]
American Accountability Foundation And Conservative Partnership Institute Share An Address
[Conservative Partnership Institute IRS Form 2019 990, Page 1]
The Conservative Partnership Institute Was Founded By Former Senator And Heritage Foundation Head Jim DeMint, Who Previously Employed Leading American Accountability Foundation Staff In His Senate Office
Former Senator And Heritage Foundation Head Jim DeMint (R – SC) Founded The Conservative Partnership Institute In 2017. “Former Sen. Jim DeMint will serve as chairman of the new Conservative Partnership Institute to fortify the presence of conservatives in Washington, he said in a news release Tuesday, adding that he thinks the status quo is hindering the development of conservative lawmakers and staffers. […] Previously, DeMint served at the helm of the Heritage Foundation, a venerable conservative think tank that at times has had a turbulent relationship with the rise of Donald Trump.” [Politico, 7/25/17]
- The Conservative Partnership Institute Was Created To Get Right-Wing Lawmakers Into Powerful Positions In The White House And Congress. “The backdrop: DeMint founded CPI because he felt the conservative movement did a lousy job at helping members of Congress be effective legislators once they get to D.C. His team has since focused on placing conservatives in prime spots in the Trump administration and Capitol Hill, and has trained staff on strategy and congressional rules and procedure.” [Axios, 1/27/21]
Both Of American Accountability Foundation’s Founders, Tom Jones And Matt Buckham, Worked For Jim DeMint. “AAF is led by Tom Jones and Matt Buckham. […] While on Capitol Hill he served as the Legislative Director for Senator Ron Johnson, ran the opposition research program for Cruz for President, and previously as a Senior Policy Advisor to Senator Jim DeMint. […] Previously, he served as a legislative aide to former Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), Senior Advisor to the House Freedom Caucus, and in various positions with conservative non-profit organizations.” [American Accountability Foundation, Accessed 3/17/22]
Leading Members Of The American Accountability Foundation Currently Work At The Conservative Partnership Institute And Even More Are Former Employees
Ed Corrigan, The Treasurer-Director Of The American Accountability Foundation, Is The President CEO OF The Conservative Partnership Institute. [CPI.org, Accessed 3/17/21]
- Corrigan Is The Treasurer-Director Of The American Accountability Foundation
[American Accountability Foundation IRS Form 1023, 1/25/21, Page 1]
Wesley Denton, The Secretary-Director Of The American Accountability Foundation, Is The COO Of The Conservative Partnership Institute. [CPI.org, Accessed 3/17/21]
- Wesley Denton Is American Accountability Foundation’s Secretary-Director
[American Accountability Foundation IRS Form 1023, 1/25/21, Page 1]
American Accountability Foundation Founder Matt Buckham Worked For The Conservative Partnership Institute At Its Inception. “DeMint has hired several former Heritage staffers for his new outfit, including Wesley Denton, Matt Buckham, Rachel Bovard, and Megan Tubb.” [Think Tank Watch, 10/27/17]
- Buckham Is One Of American Accountability Foundation’s Two Founders. “AAF is led by Tom Jones and Matt Buckham. […] While on Capitol Hill he served as the Legislative Director for Senator Ron Johnson, ran the opposition research program for Cruz for President, and previously as a Senior Policy Advisor to Senator Jim DeMint. […] Previously, he served as a legislative aide to former Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), Senior Advisor to the House Freedom Caucus, and in various positions with conservative non-profit organizations.” [American Accountability Foundation, Accessed 3/17/22]
AAF Founders Have Deep Ties To Other Republican Figures, Aside From Conservative Partnership Institute Connections
Tom Jones, AAF’s Founder And Executive Director, Is A Longtime Republican Operative. “Records show that over the years he has worked for several of the most conservative Republicans to have served in the Senate, including Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin; Ted Cruz, of Texas; Jim DeMint, of South Carolina; and John Ensign, of Nevada, for whom Jones was briefly a legislative director. In 2016, Jones ran the opposition-research effort for Cruz’s failed Presidential campaign.” [The New Yorker, 4/16/22]
Matthew Buckham, AAF Cofounder, Worked In The Trump White House And Father Ed Buckham Is Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Chief Of Staff. “Matthew Buckham, the A.A.F. co-founder, also has a Trump connection: he worked at the White House during his Administration, in the personnel office. (His father, Ed Buckham, is chief of staff to Marjorie Taylor Greene.)” [The New Yorker, 4/16/22]
Mark Meadows Son Appeared On A Lawsuit Filed On Behalf Of The AAF. “Meadows’s son, Blake, an associate attorney at the Georgia law firm Foster, Foster, & Smith, appears to be involved with C.P.I., too: his name appears in a lawsuit filed last month on behalf of the A.A.F. against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.” [The New Yorker, 4/16/22]
The Conservative Partnership And The American Accountability Foundation Share Many Directors, Including AAF Founder Tom Jones. “The groups have several overlapping directors, including Jones, who sits on both boards.” [The New Yorker, 4/16/22]
The Conservative Partnership Institute’s Lawyer Denied Any Relationship Between CPI And The AAF, Despite Tax Documents And CPI’s Yearly Reports Clearly Stating Otherwise. “Cameron Seward, the general counsel of the Conservative Partnership Institute, appeared in the lobby and assured me that there was no relationship between his group and the A.A.F. Yet documents that the A.A.F. filed with the I.R.S. in 2021, to secure its tax-exempt status, describe the group as existing “in care of” C.P.I. Moreover, C.P.I.’s 2021 annual report notes that it launched the A.A.F. because “conservatives didn’t have a group performing research on Biden’s woke nominees—even though plenty of liberal groups were digging up (or manufacturing) dirt on our side.”” [The New Yorker, 4/16/22]
The Executive Director Of Mike Pence’s Political Operation Said They Are “Partnering” And “Collaborating” With The AAF. “On March 21st, Paul Teller, the executive director of an advocacy group that serves as former Vice-President Mike Pence’s political operation, gave a lecture to Christian pastors in which he said, of the A.A.F., “I’m just in love with these guys!” Teller enthused, “They are just taking it to every Biden-Harris nominee that comes across to Congress,” adding, “Some of the stuff that we’re fighting with the Supreme Court nominee Jackson came from our friends at the American Accountability Foundation.” He went on, “We’re partnering, we’re collaborating.” Teller’s group is widely seen as promoting a potential Pence campaign for President in 2024.” [The New Yorker, 4/16/22]
The Conservative Partnership Institute Is Closely Tied To The Trump Administration—And Was Heavily Financed By Trump’s Own PAC
Shortly After Congress Launched The Committee To Investigate The Capitol Riot, Trump’s PAC Donated $1 Million To The Conservative Partnership Institute
Shortly After Congress Launched The Committee To Investigate The Capitol Riot, Trump’s PAC Donated $1 Million To The Conservative Partnership Institute. “Former President Donald Trump’s political action committee donated $1 million to the conservative nonprofit organization where his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, is a senior partner, according to a campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission Monday night. […] The tax-deductible seven-figure contribution to the Conservative Partnership Institute is by far the largest chunk of $1.35 million in donations Trump’s “Save America” PAC made to political allies over the last six months of 2021, according to the campaign finance report. […] On July 1, the House voted to establish a select committee to investigate the Capitol attack.” [CNBC, 2/01/22]
The Trump PAC Donation Coincided With Congress Recommending Contempt Charges For Mark Meadows, Trump’s Former Chief Of Staff And Senior Partner At The Conservative Partnership Institute—The Contempt Charges Were Based On Meadows’ Refusal To Cooperate With January 6th Investigations
Trump’s Former Chief Of Staff, Mark Meadows, Joined The Conservative Partnership Institute While He Was Advising Trump On His Impeachment Trial Following The Incitement Of Insurrection At The Capitol. “Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows is joining the Conservative Partnership Institute, a group run by former South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint that operates as a “networking hub” for conservatives, sources familiar with his plans tell Axios. Between the lines: Meadows, who is still in frequent contact with former President Trump and has been advising him ahead of his impeachment trial, will now operate behind the scenes to help create more members like Jim Jordan, Ted Cruz, and Josh Hawley — conservative firebrands with strong networks and staffs.” [Axios, 1/27/21]
- Meadows Is A Senior Partner At The Conservative Partnership Institute. “Former President Donald Trump’s political action committee donated $1 million to the conservative nonprofit organization where his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, is a senior partner, according to a campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission Monday night.” [CNBC, 2/01/22]
Trump’s PAC Donation To The Institute Came After Congress Recommended The Justice Department Charge Meadows Over His Refusal To Cooperate With Investigations Regarding The Capitol Riot. “In December, the House voted to recommend that the Justice Department pursue contempt of Congress charges against Meadows over his refusal to cooperate with an investigation into the Trump-inspired Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.” [CNBC, 2/01/22]
Senior Conservative Partnership Institute Leaders Matt Buckham And Ed Denton Also Worked For The Trump White House
Matt Buckham Worked In Trump’s Office Of Presidential Personnel, Which Oversaw Trump’s Senate-Confirmed Appointments. “Matt Buckham, the other co-founder, worked in Donald Trump’s White House Office of Presidential Personnel, which oversees nominations to Senate-confirmed posts.” [Yahoo, 9/13/21]
Buckham Is One Of American Accountability Foundation’s Two Founders “AAF is led by Tom Jones and Matt Buckham.” [American Accountability Foundation, Accessed 3/17/22]
- Buckham Worked For The Conservative Partnership Institute At Its Inception. “DeMint has hired several former Heritage staffers for his new outfit, including Wesley Denton, Matt Buckham, Rachel Bovard, and Megan Tubb.” [Think Tank Watch, 10/27/17]
Wesley Denton Was Chief Of Staff In Trump’s Office Of Management And Budget And Worked At The Conservative Partnership Institute. “Other CPI staff include Wesley Denton, former chief of staff in Trump’s Office of Management and Budget” [Axios, 1/27/21]
- Wesley Denton Is American Accountability Foundation’s Secretary-Director
[American Accountability Foundation IRS Form 1023, 1/25/21, Page 1]
The Conservative Partnership Institute Is Closely Tied To The Insurrection Via Senior Partner Mark Meadows And Prominent Member Cleta Mitchell
Mark Meadows Was Intimately Involved in Trump’s Efforts To Steal The 2020 Election
In December 2020 And January 2021, Mark Meadows Participated In The White House Pressure Campaign Urging Georgia Officials To Change The Results Of The Election. “That’s important, because the second new piece of information we obtained this week was an email sent by one of Meadows’ aides to the deputy secretary of state in Georgia, Jordan Fuchs, following up on a meeting that Meadows had had with Fuchs the previous week. The email was sent on Dec. 30, just a week after Trump’s phone call to the election inspector and only three days before Trump’s infamous Jan. 2 call to Georgia’s secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, pressuring him to “find 11,780 votes.” [American Oversight, 03/12/21]
After The 2020 Election, Meadows Repeatedly Pressed The Department Of Justice To Investigate Election-Related Conspiracy Theories. “In Donald J. Trump’s final weeks in office, Mark Meadows, his chief of staff, repeatedly pushed the Justice Department to investigate unfounded conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election, according to newly uncovered emails provided to Congress, portions of which were reviewed by The New York Times.” [New York Times, 06/05/21]
The Conservative Partnership Institute’s Senior Legal Fellow Cleta Mitchell Worked With Trump To Pressure Georgia To Overturn The Election Results And Is Coordinating The Right-Wing Efforts To Combat Voting Rights
Cleta Mitchell Is The Senior Legal Fellow At The Conservative Partnership Institute, Where She Is Coordinating Right-Wing Efforts To Combat Voting Rights. “Mitchell has two new roles in an emerging conservative voting operation. She’s running a $10 million initiative at the limited government group FreedomWorks to both push for new restrictions in voting and help train conservatives to get involved in the nuts and bolts of local elections. She’s also a senior legal fellow at the Conservative Partnership Institute, an organization run by former Republican Sen. Jim DeMint. She says she’ll use that role to “coordinate” conservative voting positions, particularly in opposition to H.R. 1.” [AP, 3/28/21]
- Mitchell Is Advising Conservative Lawmakers On How To Both Craft Laws To Restrict Voting Rights While Also Beating Back Efforts To Expand Them. “Now Mitchell has taken the helm of two separate efforts to push for tighter state voting laws and to fight Democratic efforts to expand access to the ballot at the federal level. She is also advising state lawmakers crafting the voting restriction proposals. And, she said Friday, she is in regular contact with Trump.” [AP, 3/28/21]
Mitchell Participated In Trump’s Infamous Phone Call To The Georgia Secretary Of State Where He Demanded The Official “Find” Enough Votes For Him To Win The State. “Mitchell, a longtime Washington D.C. lawyer, worked with President Donald Trump to argue that he won the 2020 election and participated in the infamous phone call to the Georgia Secretary of State where Trump pushed the official to “find” enough voters to overturn Biden’s win in that state.” [Urban Milwaukee, 8/03/21]
- Mitchell Tried To Pressure Georgia Officials To Overturn The Election By Insisting She Had ‘Evidence’ Of Widespread Voter Fraud. “Mitchell’s most public involvement in the voting wars came in participation on Trump’s call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Jan. 2. During that call, Mitchell insisted she had evidence of voting fraud, but officials with the secretary of state’s office told her that her data was incorrect. The call is part of an investigation by the Fulton County District Attorney’s office into whether Trump or others improperly tried to influence election officials. Mitchell would not discuss the call or the investigation.” [AP, 3/28/21]
Mitchell Chairs The Conservative Partnership Institute’s “Election Integrity Network. “Cleta Mitchell is the Senior Legal Fellow at CPI and chairs CPI’s Election Integrity Network. Cleta is an attorney, licensed in Oklahoma and the District of Columbia, who has practiced election, campaign finance, and political law for decades.” [CPI.org, Accessed 3/17/21]
- Mitchell Continues To Publicly Claim Trump Lost The 2020 Election Due To Voter Fraud. “Mitchell says she believes the courts used legal trickery to avoid ever truly addressing Trump’s allegations of voter fraud. That evidence had made some conservative groups careful not to echo Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud, even as they argue for tighter restrictions on which Americans vote. Mitchell’s role could complicate that effort to keep a distance.” [AP, 3/28/21]
The Conservative Partnership Institute Advised White Nationalist And High Profile Trump Advisor Stephen Miller On Starting His Own Non-Profit After Leaving Trump’s White House
The Conservative Partnership Institute Advised Stephen Miller On Starting His Own Non-Profit, America First Legal, After Leaving Trump’s White House. “Miller has been putting America First Legal together with guidance from former Sen. Jim DeMint’s Conservative Partnership Institute and Clinton-impeachment lawyer Ken Starr, who also served on Trump’s first impeachment defense team. Gene Hamilton, a former Justice Department lawyer, has also been involved and is expected to oversee the group’s legal work since Miller himself is not a trained attorney, while former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, currently a senior partner at CPI, will serve on its board.” [Politico, 3/26/21]
Stephen Miller Was The Architect Of Trump’s Cruel Immigration Policies And Was Found To Hold White Nationalist Views. “In a trove of emails provided to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights group, Miller cited and promoted white nationalist ideologies of white genocide, immigrants as criminals and eugenics, all of which were once considered fringe and extreme. White nationalists embrace white supremacist and white separatist views.” [NBC News, 12/7/19]
- Leaked Emails Showed Miller Cited And Promoted White Nationalist Ideologies. “In a trove of emails provided to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights group, Miller cited and promoted white nationalist ideologies of white genocide, immigrants as criminals and eugenics, all of which were once considered fringe and extreme. White nationalists embrace white supremacist and white separatist views.” [NBC News, 12/7/19]
Senate Votes and Eventual Confirmation
Cook’s First Vote In April Failed Due to Covid Absences, Though Lael Brainard Overcame The Lack Of Democratic Votes And Was Confirmed On The Same Day
Detroit Free Press: “Covid Absences Lead To Another Delay In Cook’s Confirmation To Fed.” “Michigan State University economist Lisa Cook’s wait to become the first Black woman to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors got a little longer Tuesday. Republicans in the U.S. Senate voted unanimously against a motion to advance her nomination to a final vote. That might not have mattered but for the fact that two Democrats in the evenly split Senate — Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Ron Wyden of Oregon — were out after having tested positive for COVID-19.” [Detroit Free Press, Via Nexis, 4/26/22]
Roll Call: “Senate Confirms Brainard As Fed Vice Chair But Covid-19 Trips Democrats On Cook Vote.” “The Senate voted 52-43 Tuesday to confirm Lael Brainard, a member of the Federal Reserve Board, to become vice chair, but fell short of the votes needed to move forward with Lisa Cook’s nomination to join the board.” [Roll Call, 4/26/22]
Senator Brown: “Brown Blasts Republican Attempts To Stonewall Dr. Lisa Cook’s Confirmation.” [Brown Newsroom, 4/26/22]
Detroit Free Press: “Attacks On MSU Professor Feel Much Like High School.” “Politically motivated excavation efforts continue against Lisa Cook, the MSU economics professor who would be the first Black woman to serve on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors if confirmed by the U.S. Senate.” [Detroit Free Press, Via Nexis, 4/24/22]
The Second Vote Came Less Than A Month Later, Where Cook Was Successfully Confirmed
AP: “Senate Confirms Lisa Cook As First Black Woman On Fed Board.” [AP, 5/10/22]
Federal Reserve: “Lisa D. Cook Sworn In As A Member Of The Board Of Governors Of The Federal Reserve System.” “Michigan State University economist Lisa Cook made history after the U.S. Senate voted along party lines Tuesday to approve her nomination to the Federal Reserve, where she will be the first Black woman to serve on the Board of Governors.” [Federal Reserve Press Release, 5/23/22]
Detroit News: “MSU’s Cook Makes History As First Black Woman On Fed Board Of Governors. “Michigan State University economist Lisa Cook made history after the U.S. Senate voted along party lines Tuesday to approve her nomination to the Federal Reserve, where she will be the first Black woman to serve on the Board of Governors..” [Detroit News, 5/10/22]
Americans For Financial Reform: “AFR Lauds Confirmation of Lisa Cook to Federal Reserve Board.” [AFR, 5/10/22]
Senator Brown: “Brown Applauds The Historic Confirmation Of Dr. Lisa Cook To The Federal Reserve Board.” [Brown Newsroom, 5/10/22]
Rep. Kildee: “Congressman Kildee Applauds Confirmation Of Lisa Cook To Federal Reserve Board.” [Kildee Newsroom, 5/10/22]
Senator Warnock Said Cook’s Decades Of Experience Would “Help Promote Balance And Innovation.” “The Senate just confirmed GA’s own Dr. Lisa Cook to the Fed Board of Governors. I was proud to cast my vote for Dr. Cook — her decades of experience as an economist and her Georgian sense of fairness will help promote balance and innovation to strengthen our economy.” [Twitter, 5/10/22]
Conservative Outlets And Republican Officials Continued Their Opposition To Cook Even After Her Confirmation
Daily Caller: “Senate Narrowly Confirms Biden Fed Nominee Lisa Cook After Reports Of Her Being Unqualified, Embellishing Resume.” “Critics told the The Daily Caller News Foundation Cook is not qualified to serve on the board and has misidentified her economic experience. A senior Republican Senate aide previously told the DNCF that she is one of the least qualified Fed nominees in history and that her background has no connection to monetary economics. Cook has claimed she is a macroeconomist, though her published work shows no indication of that, according to the DNCF.” [Daily Caller, 5/10/22]
Daily Caller: “Top Biden Adviser Tries To Boast About A Nominee’s Skin Color. Martha MacCallum Is Not Having Any Of It.” “Fox News’ Martha MacCallum hit back against a top Biden adviser Thursday who tried to claim having a black woman serve on the Federal Reserve board of governors would somehow help solve the inflation crisis.” [Daily Caller, 5/12/22]
Senator Toomey: “Fed Nominee Lisa Cook Unqualified to Fight Inflation.” [Toomey Newsroom, 5/10/22]
Senator McConnell: “Democrats Pushing Radical Partisans for Key Government Posts.” [McConnell Newsroom, 5/10/22]