MAGA prosecutor Jeanine Pirro speaks out amid fury over Fed chair investigation

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has issued a statement about the Justice Department's criminal investigation into Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, which hit the news explosively over the weekend and triggered backlash from a number of Republican lawmakers and even administration officials fearful that President Donald Trump is undermining the independence of the central bank.

Powell has denied any wrongdoing alleged by Trump administration officials, who claim he was not truthful to Congress about the costs of a major renovation at the Fed headquarters in Washington, D.C., and put out a statement accusing the president of trying to strongarm the Fed's monetary policy.

"I have deep respect for the rule of law and for accountability in our democracy. No one — certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve — is above the law. But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threats and ongoing pressure," said Powell. "The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President."

In Pirro's own statement published to X on Monday evening, she disputed there has been any decision to criminally charge Powell, and put the blame for the whole situation at his feet.

"The United States Attorney’s Office contacted the Federal Reserve on multiple occasions to discuss cost overruns and the chairman’s congressional testimony, but were ignored, necessitating the use of legal process — which is not a threat," wrote Pirro. "The word 'indictment' has come out of Mr. Powell’s mouth, no one else’s. None of this would have happened if they had just responded to our outreach."

"This office makes decisions based on the merits, nothing more and nothing less," she continued. "We agree with the chairman of the Federal Reserve that no one is above the law, and that is why we expect his full cooperation."