Tillis Blocks Warsh Confirmation Over Powell Probe as Trump Threatens Firing
Sen. Thom Tillis says he will block Kevin Warsh's confirmation until the Justice Department ends its criminal probe into Jerome Powell, while prosecutors visited the Fed renovation site and were denied access.
SemaforTrump renews his threat to fire Jerome Powell
Joe.My.God.Tillis: Trump Should Apologize For Attacking Pope Leo - Joe.My.God.
NBC NewsTillis vows to keep blocking Fed nominee and says Trump should apologize for pope attacks
The BulwarkTrump's Plan to Fire Powell Is Backfiring—Spectacularly
Overview
Sen. Thom Tillis said he will withhold his vote to confirm Kevin Warsh until the Justice Department ends its criminal probe into Jerome Powell, and Warsh is set to testify April 21.
Prosecutors from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office visited the Fed renovation site without prior notice and were denied access after Chief Judge James Boasberg last month quashed subpoenas in the probe.
Tillis called Warsh "a perfect candidate" but said he will not vote to confirm until the probe concludes, and Tillis and Powell have described the investigation as an attempt to bully the Fed.
Powell's term ends May 15 and he can remain on the Fed board through January 2028; the renovation has cost about $2.5 billion with nearly 80% overruns, and President Trump has threatened to fire Powell.
Pirro has 30 days to appeal Boasberg's ruling, a timeline that sets May 4 as the earliest date the Senate may attempt an initial vote on Kevin Warsh.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a partisan confrontation, foregrounding Trump's threat and using editorial language like 'bitter spat' while direct insults (for example, Trump's 'knucklehead') are presented as source content. Coverage emphasizes market reaction and an investigation, prioritizing Trump's and Tillis's statements while offering limited Powell defense.