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Fed Under Criminal Probe: Powell and DOJ

Bloomberg Markets •
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Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has disclosed that the US central bank received grand jury subpoenas from the Justice Department, signaling a potential criminal indictment. In a forceful statement, Powell described this as a dramatic escalation of the Trump administration's pressure on the institution. He explicitly linked the legal action to his June congressional testimony regarding Fed headquarters renovations, suggesting the probe is part of a broader political context.

President Donald Trump denied knowledge of the investigation in an interview, though the move marks an unprecedented attack on the central bank's independence. Bloomberg Markets analysts, including Guy Johnson, have highlighted the severe implications for US economic stability. This confrontation threatens to undermine the Federal Reserve's autonomy, a cornerstone of global financial governance. Financial institutions and international markets are closely monitoring the situation, as political interference in monetary policy could trigger significant volatility.

The investigation places the Fed in a precarious position, balancing legal defense against its mandate to manage the economy without political influence.