Judge Blocks DOJ Push to Revive Powell Subpoenas Over ‘Improper Purpose’
A federal judge has refused to revive subpoenas targeting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, keeping a high-stakes investigation frozen for now.
The ruling intensifies a clash between federal prosecutors and the court, with major implications for both monetary policy and political control of the Fed.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said the Justice Department failed to present new evidence or show legal error in his prior decision blocking the subpoenas, according to Reuters and the Wall Street Journal. The subpoenas were tied to an investigation into Powell’s testimony on Federal Reserve renovation costs.
But Boasberg went further, concluding the subpoenas were issued for an improper purpose—pressuring Powell to change interest rate policy or step down, rather than pursuing a valid criminal case.
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“The government’s arguments do not come close to convincing the Court,” Boasberg wrote, according to CBS News.
That conclusion raises broader concerns about political interference, especially as Powell has denied wrongdoing and no charges have been filed.
The dispute is now affecting policy beyond the courtroom. The unresolved investigation is delaying the confirmation of Kevin Warsh, a nominee to replace Powell, as Senate opposition grows around the ongoing probe.
The Justice Department has said it will appeal, setting up the next phase of the legal fight in a higher court.
For now, the investigation remains stalled, but the battle over Powell and the Fed’s independence is still unfolding.
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