U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has seemingly abandoned her plan to appeal a ruling unfavorable to her investigation of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Instead, she will file a motion to vacate the order, a move that appears to drop her demand for specific evidence from the Fed. The investigation has been criticized as potentially politically motivated, stemming from disagreements between Powell and former President Trump.
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Pirro Shifts Strategy in Powell Investigation, Drops Appeal Plan
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro appears to have altered her approach in the investigation of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, signaling a move away from a planned appeal and towards a "motion to vacate" the previous ruling.
Pirro had previously vowed to appeal Chief Judge James Boasberg's decisions quashing her subpoenas to the Fed, arguing they hindered grand jury investigations. However, in a recent appearance on CNN's "State of the Union," she announced her intention to file a motion to vacate Judge Boasberg's order, citing the importance of preserving prosecutors' access to grand juries.
This shift suggests Pirro is abandoning her initial demand for the Fed to release evidence related to building renovation cost overruns. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Murphy explained that a motion to vacate essentially asks the judge to disregard a previous decision, but questioned Pirro's standing to do so in this case.
Judge Boasberg had previously ruled against Pirro, finding no evidence of wrongdoing and suggesting the investigation was politically motivated, aimed at pressuring Powell over disagreements with President Donald Trump's interest rate policies. The Fed declined to comment.
Pirro is also awaiting a report from Fed Inspector General Michael Horowitz, stating she will reopen the investigation if warranted. She declined to commit to ending the investigation even if Horowitz finds no criminal wrongdoing, emphasizing her continued pursuit of information blocked by Boasberg's ruling.
