Allied Progress, a consumer advocacy group, has filed a lawsuit against the Office of Management and Budget and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, alleging the agencies have violated the Freedom of Information Act by not providing information requested by the group related to the nomination of Kathy Kraninger to be the next director of the BCFP.
A copy of the complaint in the lawsuit Allied Progress v. Office of Management & Budget and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau can be accessed by clicking here.
Allied Progress has been a vocal opponent to Kraninger’s nomination. In the days following her official nomination to be the next director, the watchdog group filed a series of FOIA requests, seeking expedited processing of the requests. The group was looking for information related to:
- Copies of Kraninger’s resume, personnel records, travel arrangements, and calendar entries during her time at OMB
- Copies of emails with a list of OMB and BCFP staff, including Mick Mulvaney, as well as emails sent to or by Kraninger which including the phrases CFPB, Cordray, and Leandra English
- Copies of emails sent to or by Kraninger related to a number of organizations, including the American Financial Services Association, the Online Lenders Alliance, and about a dozen different payday lending companies
None of the FOIA requests have been answered, according to the complaint, which was filed yesterday in the District Court for District of Columbia.
In filing the suit, Allied Progress said it is seeking the records it requested as well as attorneys’ fees relating to the lawsuit.