"A mountain of evidence suggests that the Government served these subpoenas on the Board to pressure its Chair into voting for lower interest rates or resigning, Boasberg wrote, in a decision that cites numerous public statements from the president. Boasberg added that the government's justifications for the subpoenas seem hollow."
"The Government has produced essentially zero evidence to suspect Chair Powell of a crime, he wrote. Indeed, its justifications are so thin and unsubstantiated that the Court can only conclude that they are pretextual."
"Powell, Boasberg explained, had been the target of a months-long campaign under President Donald Trump to force the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates rapidly and dramatically. Trump has repeatedly called for Powell to step down as part of that campaign."
Judge James Boasberg ruled that two subpoenas issued against Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve, were improper and served to harass him into compliance. The judge concluded prosecutors produced essentially zero evidence of any crime by Powell. Boasberg determined the subpoenas were part of a months-long campaign under President Trump to force the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates and pressure Powell to resign. The judge cited numerous public statements from the president demonstrating the improper purpose. Boasberg ordered the subpoenas unsealed, though partially redacted. Trump appointee US Attorney Jeanine Pirro disputed the ruling, accusing the judge of overstepping authority and promising an appeal.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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