Federal Trade Commissioner Lina Khan is facing calls for her resignation after Representative Harriet Hageman of the House Judiciary Committee accused the FTC chair of “lying to Congress, lying by omission to Congress and misrepresenting herself as a lawyer while lacking the appropriate law license.”
Hageman alleges that Khan disrespected the rule of law and due process, and the resulting scandal could have far-reaching consequences for the current administration’s agenda. Hageman is a Republican member of the House Judiciary Committee and also notes that Khan allegedly lied about her credentials when she was up for nomination.
In the first instance, Hageman references a hearing where Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers asked Khan if she had ever ignored the advice of the FTC’s Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO), to which Khan replied “no.” That, Hageman claims, is a lie under oath. Hageman adds that Khan had previously rejected the DAEO’s advice, according to Bloomberg.
Hageman goes on to say that Khan either lied or was deceptive about her credentials when she was nominated. Khan had presented herself on documents to the Senate Commerce Committee as a “legal fellow” at the FTC. However, Hageman alleges that “[she] did not possess that title” and it is a position that does not, and never has, existed. The truth is, her ally, FTC commissioner-turned-Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) director Rohit Chopra brought her on board as a law clerk, not a legal fellow.
There are even further concerns that Khan was in violation of District of Columbia law while she was working as majority counsel on the Judiciary Committee because she apparently operated without a DC law license. Khan passed the New York Bar in 2017, but she spent approximately one year as counsel without having a law license.
Ultimately, Khan’s relationship with Rohit Chopra could play an important role in her longevity as the FTC chair. Chopra brought Khan on as a legal fellow despite not possessing a law license. Hageman claims this relationship illustrates the lengths that Khan and Chopra have gone to in order to expand the regulatory state.
Chopra is no stranger to the fight against the financial sector, and it’s clear that Khan is a disciple of Chopra’s ultra-progressive regulatory agenda. Khan is already pushing back against the likes of Facebook, Microsoft, and other technology giants.
Many are now questioning Khan’s willingness to follow the rule of law when her own credibility is being called into question. Representative Hageman has concluded that Khan has acted in violation of the law in her pursuit of increasing the power of the regulatory state and has asked for her resignation. It remains to be seen how this situation will play out in the weeks ahead.
