Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook is defying President Trump’s threat to oust her as part of his effort to take control over the influential central bank.

Cook, the first Black woman to sit on the bank’s board, refused to step down and says the president doesn’t have the power to fire her.

“President Trump purported to fire me ‘for cause’ when no cause exists under the law, and he has no authority to do so,” Cook said in a statement issued late Monday. “I will not resign.”

Trump cited so-far unfounded allegations of mortgage fraud leveled against Cook by Bill Pulte, a Trump loyalist who leads a federal housing finance agency.

Cook has rejected the claim , which accuses her of claiming two homes as her primary residence.

“I have no intention of being bullied to step down f

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