Civil Rights Coalition Applauds Nomination of Richard Cordray to Head Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Today, President Obama nominated former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to be the first director of the newly formed Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a move that was lauded by the civil and human rights community.

“Richard Cordray is a stalwart advocate for consumers and an extremely qualified choice to be the CFPB’s first director. He has spent his career in Ohio and on the national stage protecting everyday Americans from predatory business practices and abusive lenders,” said Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

Cordray served as Ohio’s attorney general from 2009 to 2011 and previously served as a member of the state’s House of Representatives, as the state’s treasurer, and as the state’s first solicitor general. In December 2010, he was tapped to head the enforcement arm of the CFPB.

The CFPB was created by the financial reform law passed last year to protect consumers from predatory and abusive lending practices like the ones that led to the collapse of the financial industry in 2008. The civil and human rights community had advocated for Elizabeth Warren to head the bureau. However, Warren, who largely conceived of the bureau and was appointed by Obama in September 2010 to set up the bureau as his special advisor, faced stiff opposition.

“We have stood up with Warren and will stand up with Cordray to protect all Americans from abusive and manipulative business interests,” said Zirkin.