Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s pick to run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), who also is the White House budget director, and who has now muscled his way into running the Treasury Department, seems to be exactly like the rest of Trump administration … compromised, to say the least. One of the many problems with Mulvaney having both of these jobs is that either job by itself is a monster of a job, with broad-reaching impact across our country. The CFPB is the agency that was created in 2010 in the wake of the disastrous 2008 market crash to pursue laws and guidelines to protect our country from reckless business practices that could hurt Americans. The OMB administers the U.S. federal budget and is the largest agency in the White House.
Whether or not the courts will make the right decision and take away some of Mulvaney’s “jobs,” remains to be seen—but Democratic Rep. Nydia Velazquez wants to figure out exactly how running the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the CFPB works, logistically speaking.
Rep. Velazquez grilled him with yes or no questions about whether he conducted OMB work while at the CFPB or vice versa and whether he could be going in to the Oval Office to discuss one department’s work with our insane president, and then be asked about the other department he is trying to run. Rep. Velazquez continued to pepper Mulvaney with relentless, and somewhat confusing, questions that are now essential to ask because Mulvaney is trying to do what has never been done before; and for good reason—it is a conflict and a logistical nightmare.
Rep. Velazquez: Have you ever charged and OMB related expense to your CFPB expense account including travel?
Mulvaney: No, ma'am.
Rep. Velazquez: Have you ever charged a CFPB related expense to your OMB expense account?
Mulvaney: No, ma'am.
Rep. Velazquez: You have an executive assistant for either of your roles at CFPB or OMB?
Mulvaney: Yes, ma'am.
Rep. Velazquez: Have you ever instructed your executive assistant at OMB to carry out CFPB related business?
Mulvaney: No, ma'am which causes a great deal of frustration for both of my executive assistants.
Rep. Velazquez: That’s why you shouldn't be there.
The room laughs and Mulvaney goes nice and red and decides to drink some water to wash down the harsh reality that he’s the joke he’s always suspected he is. You can watch below.