President Donald Trump sparked outrage on Sunday when it was revealed that one of his handpicked prosecutors had opened an investigation into the Federal Reserve chairman.
The New York Times reported on Sunday that Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., opened an investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell last November. Powell said in a statement later that day that he had received a subpoena to testify before a grand jury about statements he made last June during a Senate committee hearing. He described the subpoena as "ongoing pressure" from the president to end the Federal Reserve's independence.
Political analysts and observers reacted to the news on social media.
"If there were any remaining doubt whether advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none," Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) posted on X. "It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question. I will oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed—including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy—until this legal matter is fully resolved."
"Just an extraordinary statement from Powell," John Bresnahan, co-founder of Punchbowl News, posted on X. "He accuses the Trump administration- without mentioning names - of ginning up a criminal probe of the Fed in a battle over interest rates."
"Chief Justice has greenlit all of this conduct by Trump! Disgusting!" lawyer Tom Ryan posted on X.
"Jerome Powell. A man who refuses to be intimidated," GOP analyst Sarah Longwell posted on X.