Judge Quashes DOJ Subpoenas Against Fed Chair Powell as Pirro Denounces Ruling as Political Shielding (Video)

The Ruling and the Firestorm

In a landmark decision unsealed today, Chief Judge James E. Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia quashed grand jury subpoenas issued by the Department of Justice against Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The judge ruled that the DOJ’s investigation into Powell’s congressional testimony regarding the $2.5 billion renovation of the Fed’s headquarters appeared to be “pretextual” and lacked a legitimate evidentiary basis.

The ruling is a significant blow to the administration’s efforts to investigate the central bank’s leadership. Judge Boasberg noted that the government had produced “essentially zero evidence” of a crime, suggesting the subpoenas were instead a tool for political pressure.

Pirro Strikes Back

Shortly after the ruling was made public, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro held an emergency news conference at the Department of Justice. Pirro, who has been leading the probe, did not hold back in her assessment of the court’s interference.

“Today’s ruling is a travesty of justice that creates a ‘special class’ of citizen in Jerome Powell,” Pirro declared. “This judge has effectively told the American people that if you sit in a high enough chair in Washington, you are immune from the grand jury process. We are investigating the potential misappropriation of billions in taxpayer-adjacent funds, and this court has chosen to shield the elite rather than follow the law.”

Pirro accused the judge of “judicial activism” and confirmed that the Department of Justice would immediately file an appeal with the D.C. Circuit Court. She argued that the investigation is a necessary check on the Federal Reserve’s transparency and that the subpoenas were legally sound.

Broader Implications

The clash marks a peak in the ongoing tension between the executive branch and the Federal Reserve. While Powell has framed the investigation as “retribution” for his refusal to lower interest rates, Pirro maintains that the probe is strictly about financial accountability and the veracity of Powell’s statements to Congress.

Legal experts suggest that if the ruling stands, it could set a major precedent regarding the “deliberative process privilege” and the extent to which a sitting Federal Reserve Chair can be compelled to testify in a criminal investigation.

Sources Used and Links

• The Washington Post: Court blocks Justice Department subpoenas of Federal Reserve
• MS NOW: Judge quashes grand jury subpoenas in Powell probe, dealing blow to DOJ
• CBS News: Judge quashes subpoenas sent to Federal Reserve as part of Justice Department criminal probe
• Forbes: Trump Can’t Subpoena Fed’s Powell, Judge Rules—Says President Just Trying To ‘Harass’ Fed Chair
• Bloomberg Law: Judge Rejects DOJ Subpoenas of Fed Board in Powell Case
• Business Insider: Judge squashes Justice Department’s subpoenas targeting Fed Chair Jerome Powell