House subpoenas CFPB officials in discrimination case

A House subcommittee has voted to issue subpoenas to officials from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as part of a continuing investigation into charges of discrimination at the agency

A House subcommittee has voted to issue subpoenas to officials from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as part of a continuing investigation into charges of discrimination at the agency.

The House Financial Services Committee’s oversight panel is investigating the charges after CFPB attorney Angela Martin accused the agency of gender bias and an independent investigator reported that she “found that the general environment…is one of exclusion, retaliation, discrimination, nepotism, demoralization, devaluation, and other offensive working conditions which constitute a toxic workplace for many of its employees.”

The CFPB refused to allow its officials to testify before the subcommittee, prompting the subpoenas, according to a Washington Post report.

“For the sake of Angela Martin and other CFPB employees who are suffering, our investigation will move forward,” said Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex.). “All those engaged in reprehensible behavior at the CFPB must be held accountable.”

Martin has testified before the subcommittee that she filed complaints against the agency for discrimination and retaliation last year after a fellow employee discriminated against her and her supervisor retaliated against her for reporting it.

She also testified that after filing the complaints, she received a phone call at home from CFPB Director Richard Cordray, who allegedly told her to “back down.”