Pirro slams judge for blocking Powell subpoenas

Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney in Washington, said Friday she plans to appeal a district court ruling blocking subpoenas issued to the Federal Reserve and will file a motion asking the judge to reconsider his decision.

"No one, folks, is above the law, and this outrageous decision will be appealed by the United States Department of Justice," Ms. Pirro said during a combative press conference.

Ms. Pirro criticized the judge, James Boasberg, calling him an "activist," accusing him of harboring animus toward President Trump, and saying the ruling had "neutered the grand jury's ability" to obtain information from the Federal Reserve.

"As a result, Jerome Powell is bathed in immunity, preventing my office from investigating the Federal Reserve," she said.

The Justice Department opened an investigation into Mr. Powell in November, examining whether he lied to Congress about renovations to the Federal Reserve's Washington, DC, headquarters.

Mr. Powell and lawmakers in both parties viewed the investigation as part of President Trump's pressure campaign to get the central bank to lower interest rates.

Judge Boasberg ruled that prosecutors presented "essentially zero evidence" of a crime and appeared to be using the justice system for political retribution.

"There is abundant evidence that the subpoenas' dominant (if not sole) purpose is to harass and pressure Powell either to yield to the president or to resign and make way for a Fed Chair who will," Judge Boasberg wrote. "On the other side of the scale, the government has offered no evidence whatsoever that Powell committed any crime other than displeasing the president."

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