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The Department of Justice is expected to drop its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell as soon as today, ABC News reports. (Update: It’s now confirmed)Senator Thom Tillis said he wouldn’t advance the nomination of Kevin Warsh so long as the probe remained open. Other Republican Senators were also strongly against it.Powell’s term ends May 15.The report says that senior DOJ officials have informed senators, including Tillis and the Senate Banking Committee, that they plan to refer the matter concerning alleged cost overruns at the Fed’s Washington headquarters to the bank’s internal watchdog instead. The Fed’s independent inspector general had previously audited the $2.5 billion renovation project in 2021, and Powell had requested another review last year.Powell’s term ends next month, but he has committed to remaining in his position until President Trump’s nominee, Kevin Warsh, is confirmed. District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro had maintained her investigation would continue despite Judge James Boasberg’s March ruling that tossed out her subpoenas to Powell. Pirro announced this week she was appealing the decision, arguing prosecutors should have broad grand jury access. It remains unclear whether prosecutors will now drop that appeal.Powell publicly revealed the investigation in a January video message, characterizing it as a Trump administration attempt to pressure the Fed into lowering interest rates. Tillis had announced in January that he would block all Fed nominees until the probe was resolved, calling the investigation “weak” and “frivolous” and warning that DOJ independence was at stake. His opposition, combined with unified Democratic resistance on the narrowly divided Banking Committee, had made advancing Warsh’s nomination impossible. Dropping the probe is expected to clear Warsh’s path to confirmation.The big question beyond that is whether Powell will remain as a Governor, which he is entitled to do.Update: Here is the statement from the US attorney:This morning the Inspector General for the Federal Reserve has been asked to scrutinize the building costs overruns – in the billions of dollars – that have been borne by taxpayers.
The IG has the authority to hold the Federal Reserve accountable to American taxpayers. I expect a comprehensive report in short order and am confident the outcome will assist in resolving, once and for all, the questions that led this office to issue subpoenas.
Accordingly, I have directed my office to close our investigation as the IG undertakes this inquiry. Note well, however, that I will not hesitate to restart a criminal investigation should the facts warrant doing so.I don’t know how you take that if you’re Powell.
This article was written by Adam Button at investinglive.com.
💡 DMK Insight
The DOJ’s decision to drop the investigation into Jerome Powell is a game changer for market sentiment. With Powell’s position now secure, traders can expect more stability in monetary policy, which could lead to a bullish trend in equities and risk assets. The uncertainty surrounding Powell had been a cloud over the markets, especially with the Fed’s upcoming decisions on interest rates. Now that this hurdle is cleared, watch for potential upward movements in indices like the S&P 500 and NASDAQ. Additionally, this could positively influence the dollar’s strength, impacting forex pairs like EUR/USD. Keep an eye on the 4-hour charts for breakouts or reversals as traders react to this news. However, it’s worth noting that while this news is positive, the broader economic indicators—like inflation rates and employment data—still hold significant sway. If inflation continues to rise, Powell may still face pressure to tighten policy, which could dampen any bullish momentum. So, monitor economic releases closely in the coming weeks for potential volatility.
📮 Takeaway
Watch for bullish trends in equities and the dollar as Powell’s investigation ends, but stay alert to upcoming economic data that could shift market sentiment.
