Judge Upholds Block On Subpoenas Targeting Fed Chair Powell
Judge James Boasberg denied the DOJ's bid to revive subpoenas into Powell tied to Fed headquarters renovations and alleged false testimony to Congress.
MS NOWJudge rejects DOJ push to resurrect probe of Jerome Powell
New York PostJudge rejects DOJ bid to unblock subpoenas targeting Fed’s Jerome Powell in biting opinion
Al JazeeraUS judge upholds decision to toss subpoenas into Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Washington ExaminerDOJ poised to appeal after judge affirms block on Powell subpoenas
Overview
Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg denied the Justice Department's motion to reconsider his March 13 ruling that quashed two subpoenas issued in January in the criminal probe of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
Boasberg concluded the subpoenas were issued for the improper purpose of pressuring Powell to lower interest rates or resign, citing the lack of evidence of fraud and public attacks on the Fed chair.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has vowed to continue the probe and her office, with Justice Department leadership backing an appeal, has signaled it will take the matter to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
The subpoenas sought records from a $2.5 billion renovation of the Fed's headquarters and alleged Powell misled Congress, and the dispute could delay consideration of Kevin Warsh with Sen. Thom Tillis vowing to block the nomination.
The Justice Department is expected to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and Powell has said he will not leave the Federal Reserve while the legal fight continues.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a vindication of Powell and a skeptical look at the prosecution. They emphasize judicial findings of improper motive, highlight prosecutors' admission of lacking evidence, and use evaluative phrasing (e.g., 'Powell's latest victory,' 'stalwart Trump ally') to foreground doubts about the investigation's legitimacy.