Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) delivered a stark message to President Donald Trump on Friday after the president took a big legal blow.
Tillis, who plans to not seek reelection and will end his term in January 2027, responded after a federal judge rejected U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's subpoenas targeting Fed Chair Jerome Powell. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg granted the order, agreeing with the Fed that Trump's repeated attacks on the chairman indicate the investigation into the Federal Reserve's building renovation was pretextual and politically motivated.
Neil Irwin, Axios chief economic correspondent spoke during a live interview on MS NOW Friday and called Boasberg's decision a "resounding defeat" for Trump and his Department of Justice.
Tillis has been critical of the Trump administration, including now demoted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. During a congressional hearing this month, Tillis vowed not to confirm any Trump nominees just as the administration was pushing to confirm Kevin Warsh, who was nominated to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve. Powell's term ends on May 23.
"Here's a warning from Thom Tillis, senator from North Carolina, who had threatened toblock Kevin Warsh because ofthis lawsuit," MS HOW host Katy Tur said.
"He says theruling to block subpoenasagainst Powell confirms justhow weak and frivolous theinvestigation," Tur added. "And he's nowwarned the DOJ againstappealing the ruling, saying itwill only delay theconfirmation of Kevin Warsh asthe next Fed chair. So he'ssaying, Justin, 'If you guys delaythis, I'm going to dig in myheels and I'm not going toconfirm your next guy.'"