Housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson told key HUD officials and senior staff members to monitor and consider the political affiliation of contract competitors, according to an investigation by the agency's Office of Inspector General.Mr. Jackson also allegedly intervened in the contracting process, suggesting that if a Department of Housing and Urban Development contractor "had strong political affiliations that were not supportive of the president" they would not receive any additional agency contracts. The findings by the IG's office were contained in a letter written by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., to White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten. The IG's office would not comment, and has yet to release its findings to the public. Sen. Murray is the ranking member on a subcommittee that oversees HUD. Despite the allegations raised, HUD issued a statement saying the IG's office "found no direct evidence that political favoritism played any role in the awarding of grants or contracts by the Secretary of HUD or any of his subordinates." In her letter to the White House, Sen. Murray said she is "deeply concerned" about Secretary Jackson's "directives to HUD senior staff."
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Doxo plans to fight the FTC complaint, which focuses broadly on consumer finance, but there are signs of confusion about the company's role in mortgages too.
April 25 -
Members of the LGBTQ community were most likely to have experienced housing bias, according to a Zillow survey, which also found many people don't recognize how fair lending laws could help.
April 25 -
Senior executives making over $151,000 would still be subject to such clauses should the rule go into effect this year.
April 25 -
Christopher J. Gallo and his aide, Mehmet A. Elmas, allegedly withheld information in mortgage applications, hiding that borrowers were purchasing second home properties.
April 25 -
Mortgage rates rose 7 basis points this week, Freddie Mac said, and more increases are likely following a weaker than expected gross domestic product report.
April 25 -
Independent mortgage bankers lost the most money ever on every loan originated last year due to higher rates and lower volumes, an industry trade group said.
April 25