Officials at the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) paid thousands of dollars to send six attorneys to a George Washington University course on the fundamentals of banking, according to documents obtained by the non-profit Judicial Watch.

Six attorneys in CFPB's enforcement division attended the banking course, at a cost of $4,500. "According to the records, the purpose of the George Washington University course, which took place on June 8, 2012, was to 'familiarize participants with the basics of banking law.' Topics included, 'The structure and purpose of bank regulation,'" Judicial Watch said in a news release today.

The non-profit questioned why training in banking fundamentals would be required for attorneys working at an agency that pays enforcement attorneys starting salaries of up to $173,000 per year.

The documents obtained by Judicial Watch also revealed that CFPB paid nearly half a million dollars for sign language translation services to assist two entry-level employees resolve unstated communications issues.

Go here for more from Judicial Watch.