Washington, D.C. -Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter asking Chairman Trey Gowdy to use the full authority of the Committee to obtain documents Cummings previously requested from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) about its decision to ban from the banking industry Albert C. Kelly, who is currently serving as a “senior adviser" to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt.
“The FDIC has determined that, based on his previous conduct as an Oklahoma banking official, Albert C. Kelly is unfit to serve in the banking industry," Cummings wrote. “This finding raises serious concerns about whether Mr. Kelly is fit to serve in our government as one of the top advisers to the EPA Administrator leading a major task force."
In July, the FDIC issued an “Order of Prohibition from Further Participation" banning Kelly from working for any U.S. financial institution and imposing a fine against him of $125,000. The order made serious findings, including that Kelly “engaged or participated in a violation of law or regulation," but it did not provide specific details.
On Sept. 21, 2017, Cummings wrote to the FDIC requesting the investigative and adjudicatory case files relating to Kelly and all documents obtained by the FDIC on which the Order of Prohibition was based. The FDIC responded on Oct. 17, 2017, by producing only publicly available information.
“It is imperative that Congress have access to information about the abuses that Mr. Kelly allegedly engaged in that resulted in the FDIC’s fine and order against him," Cummings wrote.
“You declined to join my letter to the FDIC on Sept. 21, 2017, Cummings wrote to Gowdy. “Given the FDIC’s response, I now ask that you reconsider your decision and join me in sending a new request for these documents on behalf of the Committee. If you choose not to do so, then I ask you to place this matter on the agenda for our next regularly scheduled business meeting so all Committee members will have the opportunity to vote on a motion to subpoena the FDIC for these documents."
