CFPB Settles Discrimination Case

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has settled a case resulting from an employee’s complaints about gender discrimination and retaliation, The Washington Examiner reports.

The settlement ends a two-year ordeal between Angela Martin, a CFPB attorney and whistleblower, and the bureau, according to the article.

Martin, during an April 2, 2014, hearing with the House Financial Services Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, testified about a culture of retaliation at the bureau. She said her colleagues also experience discrimination and retaliation.

“The bureau is going to be better because of this,” Martin told the Washington Examiner. “But it’s not without its pain. At this point, I had to settle with the bureau. There’s a lot more I could have fought for and over, but at what personal cost? I’m doing the best that I can. I’m giving voices to others.”

Martin is reassigned as a military affairs liaison with the offices of judge advocate generals of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard and to the commandant of the Marine Corps, according to the article. She will receive $25,000 as a result of the bureau’s settlement and in return agrees to withdraw her complaints.

The House subcommittee is continuing its investigation of discrimination and retaliation allegations against the bureau and last week authorized subpoenas for two more whistleblowers to testify.

CFPB Examiner Ali Naraghi and former bureau employee Kevin Williams asked to be subpoenaed in order to protect their interests and guard against further retaliation by the bureau. They will testify during a hearing at 2 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 18.