CFPB Seeks To Ratify Director's Pre-Confirmation Actions

CFPB

Earlier today, the CFPB published a “Notice of Ratification” in the Federal Register in response to concerns about the legal validity of its actions during the period that Director Richard Cordray served as recess appointee.  In the notice, Director Cordray states that:

The President appointed me as Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection on January 4, 2012, pursuant to his authority under the Recess Appointments Clause, U.S. Const. art. II, § 2, cl. 3. The President subsequently appointed me as Director on July 17, 2013, following confirmation by the Senate, pursuant to the Appointments Clause, U.S. Const. art. II, § 2, cl. 2. I believe that the actions I took during the period I was serving as a recess appointee were legally authorized and entirely proper. To avoid any possible uncertainty, however, I hereby affirm and ratify any and all actions I took during that period.