WASHINGTON – Cause of Action (CoA) Institute has led efforts to investigate the settlements between the Justice department and big banks over their allegedly faulty mortgage practices. Last year, CoA Institute issued multiple public records requests aimed at exploring whether DoJ has the legal authority to enter into these settlements in the first place.

Representative Sean Duffy (R-Wis), Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight, recently held a hearing to examine the Department of Justice’s settlements with big banks over these mortgage practices. CoA Institute is also probing whether DoJ has the legal right to encourage banks to steer settlement funds to preferred third-party groups that support various initiatives backed by the Obama administration. To date, the Justice Department has not answered any of these important questions.

Today, CoA Institute President and CEO Alfred J. Lechner, Jr. hosted a press call with Rep. Duffy to discuss the Justice Department’s mortgage settlements with banks. The administration should be held accountable to taxpayers who deserve to know why the money from these settlements is not being returned to the Treasury Department, as the law requires.

The audio file can be found HERE.