Dem
47
GOP
53
Bill Pulte is a wealthy and extremely Trumpy real estate developer. He parlayed that into a job as a minor federal regulator, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. From that perch he has access to most mortgages in the U.S. and has been feeding Donald Trump a steady stream of people who have claimed two primary residences on their mortgages (e.g., Congresscritters who own a house in or near D.C. and one back home). This is not illegal unless there is an intent to defraud the bank (see above).
But he has gone way beyond leaking confidential information to Trump. He has become a vicious attack dog on social media and gotten into fights with some people in the administration. At a private dinner held at the Executive Branch, an exclusive club for the ultrarich, attended by many top officials, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent threatened Pulte. Five eyewitnesses reported that Bessent went up to Pulte and said: "Why the fuck are you talking to the president about me? Fuck you. I'm gonna punch you in your fucking face." Bessent then tried to get Pulte thrown out. When Pulte resisted, Bessent offered to meet him outside. When Pulte asked: "To talk?," Bessent replied: "No, I'm going to fucking beat your ass." Others then intervened and they were seated at opposite ends of a long table.
Now some members of Congress are celebrating Bessent's move. One said, of Pulte: "I think he's a nut." A member of the House Financial Services Committee agreed: "The guy's just a little too big for his britches." There are others also backing Bessent. A third congressman said: "I would have done the same thing."
On the other hand, members of the Freedom Caucus are all-in on Pulte. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) said: "I think he's doing a great job." Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) said Pulte "is doing a good job exposing some of the stuff around these mortgage [applications]."
Earlier this year, Bessent also challenged Elon Musk and the DOGEys and tried to keep them from accessing the Treasury Dept.'s payment system. Bessent is seen by some people as the adult in the room. (V)