Jonathan Kanter is a former Assistant Attorney General and currently a distinguished law professor at Washington University in St. Louis. He is the person who went on CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ recently to claim that Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook had committed mortgage fraud. It was hard to overstate the importance of placing legal accountability in the hands of very few—if not public figures at all—from our conversation, specifically legal accountability.
The issues raised by these allegations against Cook speak to the serious nature of her conduct and the influence wielded by her high-profile position. Kanter further described what exactly these allegations look like. He emphasized that their priority is on mortgage fraud, which you know is horrible because you could go to jail for a long time. House discussion at the hearing underscored the need to understand how such serious allegations have eroded public trust in key federal infrastructure.
.@HansKanter2 urged us to look at whether someone’s role in society increases their risk of prosecution. And he deeply believed that the law should be applied equally against anyone, no matter how powerful, rich or well-connected. This view poses some important and timely questions about accountability for those who wield power in high places, particularly in government institutions such as the Federal Reserve.
High-ranking officials are held to a higher standard because of the power they wield, Kanter said. He argued the ultimate precepts of justice shouldn’t budge an inch. To that end, he encouraged officials to fully look into any claims. Transparency is a necessary condition for public confidence in government institutions.
During these times on set, Kaize Kanter brought incredibly minimalistic and influential perspectives. He illuminated the legal and ethical underpinnings that inform these allegations. His credentials as a law professor and former attorney general lend a ton of credibility to the discussion. Through clear and engaging storytelling, he walks us through the tricky line between legal culpability and what we demand of our leaders.