## DOJ Drops Powell Criminal Probe, Clearing Path for Warsh Fed Chair Confirmation
The Department of Justice has dropped its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, removing a key obstacle to the confirmation of President Trump's preferred successor, Kevin Warsh. The White House is now signaling expectations for "swift" action on Warsh's nomination, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The investigation centered on the Federal Reserve's building construction project, drawing scrutiny to Powell at a critical juncture in his tenure. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) made clear he would block Warsh's confirmation unless the Powell inquiry was resolved, creating direct pressure on the administration to address the criminal probe before proceeding with the Fed leadership transition. Tillis publicly criticized the investigation, suggesting it reflected overreach by federal prosecutors rather than substantive wrongdoing. "Some US attorney or assistant US attorney with a dream thought it would be cute to bring Chair Powell under an investigation," Tillis said, adding that the White House denied prior knowledge of the probe.

Market prediction platforms are already pricing in near-unanimous expectations that the Powell investigation was dropped specifically to facilitate Warsh's confirmation. The sequencing raises questions about the independence of the DOJ and whether political considerations influenced the timing of the decision. Warsh, a former Fed governor with close ties to Trump's economic circle, would represent a significant shift in the central bank's leadership if confirmed. Financial markets are closely watching the confirmation process, as Warsh's monetary policy stance differs notably from Powell's approach to interest rates and regulatory oversight. The administration has not formally announced Warsh's nomination, but internal White House communications suggest preparations are underway for rapid advancement through the Senate Banking Committee.
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- **Source**: ZeroHedge
- **Sector**: The Vault
- **Tags**: federal_reserve, kevin_warsh, jerome_powell, doj, fed_chair_nomination
- **Credibility**: unverified
- **Published**: 2026-04-24 15:54:09
- **ID**: 76895
- **URL**: https://whisperx.ai/en/intel/76895