by Jeff Sovern
During the George W. Bush administration, then-Comptroller of the Currency John Dugan, a former bank lobbyist and lawyer, aggressively protected banks by claiming that state anti-predatory lending laws were preempted as to national banks (remember the predatory lending that contributed to the Great Recession?), among other things. So this is a position that matters for consumer protection. The term of the incumbent, Obama appointee Thomas J. Curry, has now expired, though I gather he can stay until a successor is appointed, but perhaps he can be dismissed by President Trump and replaced by an acting-Comptroller. In any event, the time is now ripe for the president to appoint a new Comptroller. Will we see Mr. Dugan again?
