{"id":2614613,"date":"2026-06-16T11:42:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T15:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-oversight-committee-investigates-dc-profiting-from-foreclosures\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T11:44:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T15:44:41","slug":"house-oversight-committee-investigates-dc-profiting-from-foreclosures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-oversight-committee-investigates-dc-profiting-from-foreclosures\/","title":{"rendered":"House oversight committee investigates DC profiting from foreclosures"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhouse-oversight-committee-investigates-dc-profiting-from-foreclosures%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2614613&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is investigating Washington, D.C., officials over their methods of foreclosing on homeowners&#8217; properties due to unpaid taxes. Specifically, the examination focuses on the city&#8217;s practice of selling tax liens to third-party investors, who can impose up to 18% annual interest and initiate foreclosure after just six months. This process allows investors and the city to profit from the resale of foreclosed properties, often at the expense of the homeowners, especially affecting elderly and minority residents.<\/p>\n<p>The committee, led by Chairman James Comer, questions whether these practices violate Supreme Court rulings, notably the 2023 decision in Tyler v. Hennepin County, which ruled that governments cannot retain profits exceeding the property\u2019s tax debt. Critics argue that D.C.&#8217;s procedures effectively result in wealth theft, with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >homeowners losing significant equity<\/a>, sometimes up to 80%, while investors and the city benefit. <\/p>\n<p>There has been controversy and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ohio-supreme-court-clears-the-way-for-current-congressional-map-to-be-used-in-2024\/\" title=\"Ohio...s Supreme Court approves the use of current congressional map in 2024.\">legal challenges surrounding<\/a> this foreclosure method, including cases like that of bennie Coleman, a former Marine who lost his home after missing a small tax payment. Comer has criticized the city&#8217;s practices and urged the D.C. Council to provide a briefing on the matter, expressing concern that city officials have yet to respond adequately. The investigation aims to determine if local laws comply with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/governors-unveil-plan-to-end-bidens-border-crisis-were-not-going-to-sit-around-while-biden-refuses-to-act\/\" title=\"Governors Unveil Plan To End Biden\u2019s Border Crisis: \u2018We\u2019re Not Going To Sit Around While Biden Refuses To Act\u2019\">federal court rulings<\/a> and to address the disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-oversight-committee\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1524\">House Oversight and Government Reform Committee<\/a> is investigating <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\">Washington, D.C.,<\/a> officials over their method of foreclosing on properties whose homeowners have failed to pay their property taxes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The committee is investigating the city\u2019s practice of selling tax liens to third-party investors, who can charge up to 18% annual interest on the property tax debt and file a foreclosure complaint on the home after just six months.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4608592\/house-democrats-newark-ice-detention-delaney-hall\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>House Democrats head to New Jersey for forum on Delaney Hall detention facility<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4607208\/trump-congress-seats-white-house-ufc-fight\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Golden ticket: Trump\u2019s allies in Congress get coveted seats at White House cage fight<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4607068\/discharge-petition-frustrating-house-gop-leadership\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>How the once-rare \u2018discharge petition\u2019 is frustrating House GOP leadership<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the property gets foreclosed and ultimately resold, the D.C. government and the third-party investor can pocket the equity or profits from the sale in excess of the property\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lien-document-indicates-that-ashley-biden-owes-thousands-in-income-taxes\/\" title=\"Ashley Biden owes thousands in income taxes, as per lien document\">outstanding tax debt<\/a> and interest, while the homeowner pockets none of that money, according to the House oversight committee.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oversight committee chairman Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-comer\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1931\">James Comer<\/a> (R-KY) argues in his letter to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/d-c-council\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1103\">D.C. Council<\/a> Chairman Phil Mendelson that \u201cthe District\u2019s practices appear out of step with Supreme Court legal precedent and disproportionately impact elderly and minority homeowners.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Comer said the investigation will center on whether the district is out of compliance with the Supreme Court\u2019s unanimous 2023 decision in <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2713444\/supreme-court-to-hear-home-equity-theft-case-over-elderly-womans-seized-house\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"2713444\">Tyler v. Hennepin County<\/a><\/em>, in which the court held that the government cannot keep the excess profit of a property\u2019s foreclosure sale beyond the owner\u2019s tax debt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhile many states have amended their laws to abide by the Court\u2019s ruling in Tyler, the District continues the practice of taking generational wealth accrued through home ownership from hard-working families and handing it to third-party investors,\u201d Comer wrote in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/oversight.house.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Letter-to-Phil-Mendelson-Tyler-v.-Hennepin-County.pdf\">letter<\/a>. \u201cWashington, D.C., our nation\u2019s capital, is depriving Americans of their property through punitive tax law that results in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/12-states-allow-home-equity-theft-over-homeowners-tax-payment-shortfalls\/\" title=\"12 States allow ... \u201cTheft\u201d\u2019 Over ...\u2019 Tax Payment Shortfalls\">home equity theft<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The practice has been controversial in the district for several years. Properties still occupied by homeowners are exempt from the method of foreclosure after a lawsuit resulted in the exemption. Former Marine Corps Sergeant Bennie Coleman, 76, who had dementia, filed a lawsuit against the district when he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/sf\/investigative\/2013\/09\/08\/left-with-nothing\/\">lost his house<\/a> after missing his $137 property tax payment once the city sold his lien to an investor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Comer wrote in the letter that the process can cause district homeowners, whose liens are sold to third-party investors, to lose 80% of their home equity because of debt that could have been only 20% of the home\u2019s value.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4608529\/dc-mayoral-race-mamdani-style-politics-janeese-lewis-george-kenyan-mcduffie\/\">DC MAYORAL RACE TESTS DEMAND FOR MAMDANI-STYLE POLITICS AGAINST ESTABLISHMENT FIGURE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Comer wrote in his letter that the D.C. attorney general\u2019s office was \u201cdismissive\u201d in its response to the committee\u2019s concerns expressed in 2025 and that Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/muriel-bowser\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2963\">Muriel Bowser<\/a>\u2018s office has yet to respond. In his letter to Mendelson, Comer is asking the council to provide a briefing to the committee by June 30, 2026.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> has reached out to Mayor Bowser and Attorney General Brian Schwalb\u2019s office for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>House panel probes D.C. tax lien foreclosure practices<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2614614,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/WEXBowser0.jpeg?w=640","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[50501,27605,5045,5618,51379],"class_list":["post-2614613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-dc-2","tag-foreclosure","tag-government","tag-oversight","tag-real-estate-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/WEXBowser0.jpeg?w=640","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2614613"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614613\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2614617,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614613\/revisions\/2614617"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2614614"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2614613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2614613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2614613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}