Only in Washington could a federal judge twist the Constitution into protecting a bureaucrat accused of mortgage fraud. On Monday, a divided appeals court ruled that President Donald J. Trump could not immediately remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa D. Cook—despite clear allegations that she lied on mortgage applications before taking office. Apparently, “due process” now means clinging to power while the courts stall and the swamp circles the wagons.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, by a 2–1 vote, denied Trump’s request to lift a lower-court injunction that had restored Cook to her post. That means she’ll sit in on this week’s Fed meeting, voting on interest rates and monetary policy, while questions about her honesty hang in the air. Judge Gregory Katsas dissented, warning the majority’s decision misapplied both law and common sense. Translation: he’s the only one in the room still using logic.
Katsas didn’t hold back. “Fraud is not just a permissible reason for removal,” he wrote. “It is an excellent one.” Exactly. If you can’t be trusted to tell the truth on your mortgage, why should you be trusted with America’s money supply?
But the majority opinion wasn’t about substance—it was about procedure. Judges Bradley Garcia and J. Michelle Childs argued Cook had a “property interest” in her cushy 14-year appointment, and Trump violated her due process rights by firing her without a chance to respond. Property interest? Since when is a government job your property? Katsas reminded them the Supreme Court said back in 1900 that public office is not property. But apparently, in 2025, swamp jobs come with lifetime tenure if you know the right people.
Let’s be clear: Fed governors wield massive power over the economy. They decide interest rates, inflation policy, and more. And yet thanks to this ruling, someone accused of fraud gets to keep shaping the financial lives of every American until the courts crawl through their endless process. “Even with expedition,” Katsas warned, “judicial review can frustrate presidential action for months or even years.” Which, of course, is exactly what the left wants—tying Trump’s hands while their allies cling to power.
The Trump administration is expected to take this fight to the Supreme Court, and rightly so. Because at the end of the day, the President has the authority—and the duty—to remove compromised officials who can’t be trusted. The American people deserve leaders who are honest, not swamp creatures hiding behind legal technicalities.
The left wants to call this about “due process.” But the real issue is simple: if fraud doesn’t disqualify you from regulating America’s money, what does?
Trump will keep fighting, and this case is far from over. And no matter how many judges try to shield Washington insiders, the American people see what’s happening: the swamp protects its own, while patriots like Trump fight for accountability.
