Tillis Lifts Fed Nominee Block After Powell Investigation Collapse
Sen. Thom Tillis just flipped his position on Trump’s Federal Reserve pick, clearing a path that had been blocked for months.
The shift came after the Department of Justice dropped its criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, removing the condition Tillis had set for moving forward.
According to Reuters and Axios, Tillis had refused to support any nominee while the probe was active, arguing it risked political interference in the central bank. The investigation centered on Powell’s testimony about a multibillion-dollar renovation project.
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The DOJ closed the case on April 24 and handed it to the Fed’s inspector general, a move Tillis said resolved his concerns about independence.
That decision now allows Kevin Warsh, Trump’s nominee, to advance through the Senate Banking Committee, where Republicans hold a narrow majority.
But questions remain. Democrats warn the episode shows how pressure on the Fed could shape leadership, while the DOJ has not ruled out reopening the case if new evidence surfaces.
A committee vote is expected within days, with a full Senate vote likely before Powell’s term ends May 15.
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