Cummings seeks U.S. probe of Wells Fargo practices 

Posted: 7:14 pm Tue, January 19, 2010
By Daily Record Staff

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D-Md., has written to the U.S. Justice Department, requesting an investigation of lending practices undertaken by Wells Fargo and other institutions in the Baltimore area.

In a release, the congressman said he requested an investigation by the new Fair Lending unit, which was recently created within the Civil Rights Division Housing Section of the Justice Department.

In the letter addressed to Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez, Cummings asked for answers to questions that included whether there was a systematic effort by any mortgage lender to drive minority borrowers into high-cost mortgage loans.

A suit brought by Baltimore City against Wells Fargo Bank in January 2008 under the Fair Housing Act was dismissed earlier this month by U.S. District Court Judge J. Frederick Motz.  City officials said they intend to amend the suit rather than appeal Motz’s decision.