Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to pay $22.3 million to lease building owned by Obama bundler

Washington Examiner for full article.

The attempted CFPB coup

. . . Holman W. Jenkins, Jr., writing in the Wall Street Journal, November 29, called attention to one artful method employed by the agency: fabricating "evidence of racial disparity in auto lending to shake money out of lenders."  Jenkins noted that the agency had no authority to go after auto dealers and so put pressure on banks instead.  Jenkins referred to the appointment of English as acting director as a "power grab of the [Elizabeth] Warren junta."  Thus far, Judge Kelly has stymied this "power grab."

This May Explain Why Democrats Are So Desperate To Hang Onto Control Of CFPB

"A President has the power of appointment over agencies like the Consumer Fraud Protection Bureau. That’s why when Democrats tried to perform a coup and hold onto power there, it seemed rather odd. 
"But perhaps it’s not so strange if they’re trying to cover up things or keep their pay-for-play in motion.
"Check out this article from 2014. They were paying $22.3. million for two years for ‘temporary space’ for the bureau at a building owned by a big Democratic donor/Obama bundler. And we also paid millions extra, triple the amount estimated for ‘renovations’ to the building.
"What else might a new director discover?

"Via Washington Examiner:

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau officials will pay $22.3 million to lease temporary offices in addition to the record-breaking $145 million being spent to renovate the agency’s headquarters, according to documents obtained by the Washington Examiner.

The temporary offices to be occupied by CFPB for the next two years are being leased in a building owned by Neil G. Bluhm, a longtime friend and campaign bundler for President Obama.

Bluhm made headlines in 2010 when he hosted Obama’s 49th birthday party at his Chicago home. Admission was $30,000 per person, with the proceeds going to the Democratic National Committee.

Controversy has dogged the CFPB for more than a year for nearly tripling the initial $55 million cost estimate for renovations to the building that will serve as the bureau’s permanent headquarters. The building is across the street from the White House, at 1700 G St. NW in Washington.

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