Supreme court justices push Trump lawyer on how allegations against Fed governor Cook could harm the public – live | US politics
Barratt and Jackson push Trump administration on how allegations against Cook could harm the public
During today’s arguments, both conservative justice Amy Coney Barrett and Ketanji Brown Jackson of the liberal wing of the court pushed the solicitor general to explain how the administration’s allegations against Cook would harm the public if she were to remain in her position.
Jackson went on to press Sauer to provide “evidence that supports that allegation” of Cook’s mortgage fraud. “What is the evidence that has been presented and considered with respect to Ms Cook’s alleged misconduct?”
Key events
Joanna Walters
There was a brief flurry at the supreme court hearing earlier after the solicitor general, John Sauer, was talking over some of the justices – coincidentally, or not, all women – and was reprimanded by the chief justice, John Roberts.
Sauer interrupted Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and, although it was very brief, the chief intervened to tell Sauer, “Counsel, please allow the justice” to finish, Scotusblog reported.
The solicitor general is arguing the case in front of the court for the Trump administration, against Lisa Cook, while her case is being put by a former solicitor general, who is also a well-known conservative, Paul Clement.
Sauer was also heard talking over Sonia Sotomayor, one of the other liberal-leaning justices, and Amy Coney Barrett, the conservative justice appointed by Donald Trump at the end of his first term to replace the late arch liberal Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
Cook’s lawer, Paul Clement, answers questions from supreme court justices
Lisa Cook’s lawyer, Paul Clement, is now answering questions from the supreme court justices.
“The sum total of the solicitor general’s arguments would reduce the removal restriction in this unique institution to something that could only be recognized as at-will employment,” Clement said in his opening argument today. “No procedural due process before removal, no judicial review after removal, no preliminary injunction to preserve the status quo and a conception of ‘cause’ so capacious that apparent misconduct or gross negligence suffices, that makes no sense.”
Throughout the first half today’s arguments, the Trump administration’s lawyers argue that the president “provided adequate process” in his attempt to fire Lisa Cook via social media posts.
Several justices today appeared skeptical, and pushed the solicitor general about why Trump wouldn’t hold some type of hearing to sufficiently lay out the accusations levied against the governor.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked why the president didn’t “sit down across the table in the Roosevelt Room” with Cook to “to hear what her response is” to the allegations.
Kavanaugh says argument that Trump can fire governors without a hearing could ‘shatter’ Fed independence
In his questioning today, conservative justice Brett Kavanaugh pushed the solicitor general about his argument that “for cause” is ultimately up to the president, without judicial review or a hearing.
“No process required, no remedy available, very low bar ‘for cause’ that the president alone determines,” Kavanaugh said. “That would weaken, if not shatter, the independence of the Federal Reserve.”
When it comes to the possible harm to the public, Barrett noted that the court has received amicus briefs from economists who say that Cook’s removal “could trigger a recession”.
A reminder that a federal court blocked Cook’s removal from the board of governors, and she has been allowed to remain in her position while the case plays out.
Barratt and Jackson push Trump administration on how allegations against Cook could harm the public
During today’s arguments, both conservative justice Amy Coney Barrett and Ketanji Brown Jackson of the liberal wing of the court pushed the solicitor general to explain how the administration’s allegations against Cook would harm the public if she were to remain in her position.
Jackson went on to press Sauer to provide “evidence that supports that allegation” of Cook’s mortgage fraud. “What is the evidence that has been presented and considered with respect to Ms Cook’s alleged misconduct?”
Questioning the solicitor general today, justice Sonia Sotomayor focused on the timeline of the allegations against Cook, namely that she is accused of committing fraud prior to her role on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
“It’s not as if she’s been incompetent, negligent or committed malfeasance while in office,” Sotomayor said. “This is something pre-office, so keeping her in office is not causing an immediate harm to the agency.”
Arguments begin at supreme court in case over Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve governor
The arguments in the case to decide whether the firing of Federal Reserve governor, Lisa Cook, is legal have begun.
Arguing on behalf of the Trump administration, solicitor general John D Sauer said today that “the American people should not have their interest rates determined by someone who was at best, grossly negligent in obtaining favorable interest rates for herself”.
A reminder that the Trump administration attempted to fire Cook for over apparent discrepancies on her mortgage applications, that officials claim are evidence of fraud.
Trump continues to blast Fed chair Powell, teases replacement
In his winding speech the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump repeated his criticisms of Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell.
“It’s amazing how people change once they have the job. It’s too bad, sort of disloyalty, but they got to do what they think is right,” Trump said. “We have a terrible chairman right now. Jerome ‘too late’ Powell. He’s always too late, and he’s very late with interest rates.”
The president noted that he plans to announce the nominee to replace Powell, whose term expires in May, soon. “Everyone that I interviewed is great. Everyone could do, I think, a fantastic job,” Trump said. “Problem is they change once they get the job.”
Trump repeats baseless claim that the US ‘gave back’ Greenland to Denmark
Throughout his speech today, Donald Trump has repeated a baseless claim that the US returned Greenland to Denmark after the second world war.
“We already had it as a trustee, but respectfully returned it back to Denmark not long ago,” the president said. It’s a common refrain from the president, but it’s worth noting that the United States has never owned the autonomous territory. It’s been a part of the Kingdom of Denmark for centuries, a fact that is established under international law, and recognized by the US.
While the US did set up military bases in Greenland (via a wartime security agreement with Denmark) during the second world war, it didn’t confer any actual ownership.
In 1946, then-president Harry Truman secretly pitched to buy Greenland, but it was ultimately rejected by the Danish.
US seeks immediate negotiations to acquire Greenland, Trump confirms
Jakub Krupa
And there it is.
Trump confirms that he is “seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States, just as we have acquired many other territories throughout our history, as many of the European nations have”.
Graeme Wearden
Modesty is not high on the agenda for this speech.
Citing the new “100% expensing” rules brought in to support company investment, Trump declares “a miracle is taking place” in the US economy, which “no-one thought it would ever be done by any country”.
He added that his first term as president was the “most successful term ever” from a financial perspective.
The president is now touting the mass firings of hundreds of thousands of federal workers – a hallmark of his first year back in office.
“Nobody thought that was coming, but we had no choice to make a country great. You can’t have all federal jobs,” he said.
He claimed that civil servants left their jobs in the federal government and have started roles in the private sector with significant pay rises.
“So they started off hating me when we fired them, and now they love me,” Trump said.
“When America booms, the entire world booms,” Trump said today. “When it goes bad … you all follow us down, and you follow us up.”
Jakub Krupa
Trump opens with a zinger that it’s good to be back in Davos to “address so many respected business leaders, so many friends, a few enemies.”
He gets a laugh from the audience.
He then goes on with a long list of what he claims to be the numerous successes of his presidency, one year on – from the economy and productivity to border security.
While my colleagues and I across the Guardian will be keeping a close ear on all things Greenland and Nato in Trump’s speech today, a senior administration official tells the press pool that the president’s address will have “an America First feel” and is expected to also touch on Venezuela and tout the state of the US economy.
One quick note, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles told reporters travelling with the president today, that on Tuesday 27 January he will travel to Iowa for an economic and energy focused speech. Wiles added that Trump will make weekly travel ahead of the midterm elections. Cabinet officials are also set to amp up increase domestic travel, she said.
Donald Trump arrives in Zurich ahead of Davos talk
Despite the technical delays on Air Force One on Tuesday evening, the president has now landed in Zurich, roughly two hours later than expected.
The press pool notes that as Trump touched down in Davos, via helicopter, a short while ago. As they descended, a message written on a hillside in snow read: “Stop wars now.”
The president was due to address the conference at 8:30am ET, it’s unclear if that will be pushed back.
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