William Emanuel, already criticized for allegedly favoring clients of the corporate law firm he used to work for, now faces a probe by the agency’s inspector general.

In the latest sign that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is pulling back from aggressive enforcement, it dropped an investigation itno a lender that charges triple-digit interest rates.

William Emanuel has recused himself from ruling on disputes involving his former law firm’s clients — but then used unrelated cases as vehicles to help Republican colleagues accomplish the same thing.

"The General Assembly enacted the plan with the intent of discriminating against voters who favored non-Republican candidates," U.S. Circuit Court Judge Jim Wynn wrote in the majority opinion.