Fed Chair Jerome Powell Subpoenas Blocked by Judge A federal judge has ruled to block subpoenas issued to the Federal Reserve as part of a criminal investigation into its chair, Jerome Powell, by prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s office for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro. The court filing, disclosed on Friday, revealed that the judge’s decision prevents the prosecutors from compelling the Fed to provide documents or testimony related to the probe. The case centers on allegations tied to Powell’s involvement in costly renovations of the Federal Reserve’s headquarters and his testimony before the Senate Banking Committee regarding the project. Pirro is scheduled to provide an update on the investigation during a public statement on Friday afternoon. The timing of her announcement coincides with ongoing political tensions, as Senator Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has reiterated his opposition to confirming Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s nominee to replace Powell as Fed chair. Tillis has stated he will not lift his block on Warsh’s nomination until the investigation of Powell is fully resolved. This legislative stalemate highlights the intersection of legal scrutiny and political maneuvering in the Federal Reserve’s leadership. Powell himself confirmed he became aware of the investigation by Pirro’s office, though he has not disclosed specific details about the allegations. The probe has drawn significant attention due to its potential implications for both the Fed’s independence and the broader economic policy landscape. Meanwhile, the legal battle over subpoenas underscores the challenges faced by prosecutors in accessing sensitive financial information, even as they navigate judicial oversight and political pressures.#federal_reserve #jeanine_pirro #jerome_powell #senate_banking_committee #thom_tillis
DOJ's Ed Martin Faces Ethics Charges Over Threatening Letter to Georgetown University The D.C. Bar’s disciplinary office has filed ethics charges against Justice Department pardon attorney Ed Martin, alleging misconduct related to a threatening letter he sent to Georgetown University Law Center in 2023. The letter, which was disclosed in court filings, criticized the law school’s diversity and inclusion policies and led to sanctions against its students. The case was made public on Tuesday through filings in the D.C. Court of Appeals’ Board on Professional Responsibility. In the letter dated February 17, Martin, who was serving as interim U.S. attorney at the time, accused Georgetown of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices and demanded changes. He claimed a whistleblower had raised concerns about the school’s approach to DEI education. Without awaiting a response, he instructed his office staff to stop employing Georgetown students as fellows, interns, or employees at the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office. Georgetown’s former dean, William Treanor, responded by condemning the letter as an “attack on the University’s mission as a Jesuit and Catholic institution.” The disciplinary complaint, authored by Disciplinary Counsel Hamilton “Phil” Fox III, argues that Martin’s actions violated the First and Fifth Amendments by using his official position to coerce the law school into altering its curriculum and teaching methods. The filing states that Martin’s demands effectively sought to suppress free speech and religious rights in exchange for employment opportunities for Georgetown students. The Justice Department has criticized the D.C. Bar, calling it a partisan entity.#pam_bondi #ed_martin #dcbar #georgetown_university #jeanine_pirro
