An advisor to President Trump who called for the firing of CFPB Director Richard Cordray owned a lobbying firm that represented payday lenders, according to records on file with the Senate.
Corey Lewandowski incongruously told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that one of the top moves that new White House Chief-of-Staff retired General John Kelly should make is to convince Trump to fire Cordray.
The comments seemed out of place, based on other issues Kelly faces, so host Chuck Todd pressed Lewandowski about whether he had any clients with business before the CFPB.
Lewandowski said he did not.
But Lewandowski did not say that Avenue Strategies, a lobbying firm he helped form after Trump was elected, represents Community Choice Financial, a company that offers short-term loans in dozens of states.
The firm has received $160,000 from Community Financial since the beginning of the year.
Lewandowski helped establish the lobbying firm following Trump’s election, but left it amid allegations that he was peddling access to administration officials.
Lewandowski was not a registered lobbyist for Avenue Strategies.
In its lobbying registration with the Senate, Avenue Strategies made it clear that it was lobbing on behalf of Community Financial on “Efforts regarding pay day lending rules and regulations.”
And in documents filed with the SEC, Community Financial made it clear that its business could be affected by payday lending rules from the CFPB.
It remains unclear whether Trump has the power to fire Cordray—that issue is tied up in federal court.
But in his comments on Meet the Press, Lewandowski said Cordray is planning to run for the Democratic nomination for Ohio governor and should not head the CFPB while forming his plans.
A chorus of other Republicans have called on Trump to fire Cordray.
