Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has confirmed that the US Department of Justice has issued grand jury subpoenas linked to his congressional testimony. Powell said the move is not about legal accountability but about political pressure aimed at influencing interest rate decisions.
Powell Says Subpoena Is Political Intimidation
In a strong public statement, Powell rejected the allegations behind the subpoena and called them “pretexts.” He said the action is meant to intimidate the central bank for refusing to cut interest rates based on political demands rather than economic data.
Powell made it clear that the Federal Reserve will continue to operate independently and that monetary policy will remain driven by inflation data employment trends and financial stability.
Dollar Falls as Fed Independence Comes Under Question
Financial markets reacted quickly. The US dollar weakened sharply with the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index falling around 0.2 percent. US equity futures also slipped while investors moved toward safe assets.
Gold prices rose and the Swiss franc strengthened as markets priced in higher political risk. Analysts said the event revived fears of political interference in US monetary policy.
Bond Yields Could Rise Despite Rate Cuts
Economists warned that attacks on the Federal Reserve could have long term consequences. Saul Eslake former chief economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch Australia said pressure on the Fed is one reason long term bond yields are rising even as short term rates fall.
Higher long term yields increase government debt servicing costs and directly impact mortgage rates not only in the US but across global bond markets.
Trump Allies and Bill Pulte Linked to Push for Subpoena
Reports suggest Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte played a key role in urging the Trump administration to subpoena the Federal Reserve. The move comes as the White House prepares to select a new Fed chair.
Some Trump allies are concerned the strategy could backfire by triggering a legal battle unsettling bond markets and reducing the chances of Powell stepping down early. Powell can remain a Fed governor until 2028 even if he leaves the chair position.
Market Experts Warn of Serious Backfire Risk
David Bassanese chief economist at Betashares described the DOJ probe as a last ditch political effort to force Powell out. He warned that damaging confidence in the Fed’s independence could push long term yields higher and hurt housing affordability.
Sean Callow of InTouch Capital Markets said the investigation triggered a flight to safety similar to previous attacks on Fed officials. He noted that while some analysts downplayed risks to the dollar this episode has clearly shaken investor trust.
Bipartisan Backlash Builds in Washington
The move has drawn sharp bipartisan criticism. Republican Senator Thom Tillis said he would block all Trump Fed nominees until the matter is resolved. Senior Democrats also condemned the investigation warning it threatens the foundation of central bank independence.
President Donald Trump denied any knowledge of the DOJ probe but the political fallout continues to grow.
Why This Matters for Investors
The Federal Reserve’s credibility is central to global financial stability. Any perception that interest rate decisions are influenced by politics can weaken the dollar raise borrowing costs and increase market volatility.
Investors are now closely watching bond yields currency moves and upcoming signals from the Fed to assess whether political pressure will intensify or fade.
Key Takeaway
Jerome Powell’s subpoena has become more than a legal issue. It has turned into a global market event raising concerns over US institutional independence currency stability and long term interest rates.
Update: Trump Denies Knowledge of DOJ Probe Into Fed
President Donald Trump said he was unaware of any Justice Department investigation involving the Federal Reserve, following reports that the agency subpoenaed the central bank on Friday. Speaking to NBC News on Sunday night, Trump claimed he had no information about the matter but sharply criticized Fed Chair Jerome Powell, saying Powell has performed poorly at the central bank and questioning his past work in real estate.
White House on Powell Probe
The White House said President Trump did not direct the Justice Department to investigate Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump is free to publicly criticize Powell, but deciding if any laws were broken is solely the DOJ’s responsibility.
The clarification comes as some Republicans raise concerns over the probe. A few senators warned they may block Trump’s nominees to the central bank if the investigation is seen as harming the independence of the Federal Reserve.
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