washington democratic state officials take step monday try defend u.s. consumer financial protection bureau court battle could defang worry republican president donald trump administration safeguard agency attorneys general 16 state plus district columbia file paper federal appeal court seek intervene case court rule last october structure agency charge guard consumer finance unconstitutional agency immediately ask court reconsider decision trump administration could drop appeal state officials lead connecticut attorney general george jepsen say court file concern trump administration fire agency independent director richard cordray appoint democratic former president barack obama agency create obama presidency 2010 dodd-frank wall street reform law much wheelhouse protect consumers whole thrust creation cfpb protect consumers jepsen say interview concern law go gutted jepsen add new court file early salvo could become lengthy legal fight trump administration democratic state officials administration follow campaign promise issue climate policy immigration would put us course conflict wide variety areas jepsen say court file say trump express strong opposition dodd-frank reform urgent state attorneys general intervene order protect interest state state officials ask able defend agency lawsuit bring mortgage lender phh corp ensure case declare moot trump administration drop appeal rule 2010 law director fire cause limit president ability remove u.s. court appeal district columbia circuit rule restriction unlawful limitation presidential power democratic state officials expect join left-leaning advocacy group legal action trump administration republican-governed state conservative group file numerous lawsuits obama administration american civil liberties union citizens responsibility ethics washington already file legal action involve trump democratic-led state battle trump consumer financial agency