{"id":2586952,"date":"2026-04-03T15:41:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T19:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-poised-to-appeal-after-judge-affirms-block-on-powell-subpoenas\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T15:43:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T19:43:20","slug":"doj-poised-to-appeal-after-judge-affirms-block-on-powell-subpoenas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-poised-to-appeal-after-judge-affirms-block-on-powell-subpoenas\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ poised to appeal after judge affirms block on Powell subpoenas"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-poised-to-appeal-after-judge-affirms-block-on-powell-subpoenas%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2586952&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A federal judge\u2019s decision and a likely appeal are at the center of a legal dispute over subpoenas tied to an examination of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg refused to reconsider his March ruling that blocked the subpoenas, which were issued by the DOJ and sought records from the Fed\u2019s Board of Governors in an inquiry led by Jeanine Pirro. Prosecutors contend the case involves possible fraud or false statements related to cost overruns at the Fed headquarters renovation and Powell\u2019s prior testimony, but Boasberg said the government provided no new evidence or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-upholds-injunction-on-mich-abortion-ban\/\" title=\"... upholds injunction on Mich. abortion ban\">clear legal error<\/a> to justify reversing course. He reaffirmed that subpoenas can\u2019t be used for coercive or political purposes, noting the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-blocks-doj-subpoenas-against-jerome-powell\/\" title=\"... blocks DOJ ... against Jerome Powell\">subpoenas appeared aimed<\/a> at pressuring Powell amid Donald Trump\u2019s criticisms of the Fed. The DOJ is expected to appeal to the D.C. Circuit, and the dispute could affect the timing of a potential replacement for Powell, should that trial court fight delay the confirmation of Kevin Warsh. Powell has indicated he does not plan to step down during the ongoing legal battle.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">DOJ poised to appeal after judge affirms block on Powell subpoenas<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2538683\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A federal judge on Friday refused to reconsider his decision blocking subpoenas tied to a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jerome-powell\/\">Jerome Powell<\/a>, dealing another setback to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> and setting up a likely appeal that could prolong the standoff.<\/p>\n<p>Chief U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia James Boasberg, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, rejected the DOJ&rsquo;s motion to revisit his earlier ruling, finding that prosecutors failed to present new evidence or identify any clear legal error that would justify reversing course.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference after a Federal Open Market Committee meeting, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at the Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington.&nbsp;(AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;The Government&rsquo;s arguments do not come close to convincing the Court that a different outcome is warranted,&rdquo; Boasberg wrote in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.288962\/gov.uscourts.dcd.288962.33.0.pdf\">his six-page order<\/a> denying reconsideration. <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The decision keeps in place Boasberg&rsquo;s March ruling quashing subpoenas issued by the U.S. Attorney&rsquo;s Office in Washington, led by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeanine-pirro\/\">Jeanine Pirro<\/a>, which sought records from the Fed&rsquo;s Board of Governors as part of an investigation into Powell.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors have said they are examining whether Powell committed fraud or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-gop-governor-rips-mlb-for-caving-to-cancel-culture-says-president-biden-is-lying-about-voting-reform-bill\/\" title=\"Georgia GOP Governor Rips MLB For \u2018Caving To Cancel Culture,... Says President Biden Is \u2018Lying... About Voting Reform Bill\">made false statements<\/a> to Congress related to cost overruns at the Fed&rsquo;s headquarters renovation project and his prior testimony about them. Boasberg claimed that the government has yet to produce any evidence supporting those suspicions.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Government&rsquo;s fundamental problem is that it has presented no evidence whatsoever of fraud,&rdquo; he wrote. &#65532;<\/p>\n<p>Instead, the judge reaffirmed his earlier conclusion that the subpoenas were likely issued for an improper purpose &mdash; namely, to pressure Powell amid President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump&rsquo;s<\/a> long-running criticism of the Fed chairman and demands for lower interest rates.<\/p>\n<p>While acknowledging that prosecutors have broad authority to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-attorney-doc-irs-issued-grand-jury-subpoena-to-jpmorgan-for-hunter-james-biden-bank-records-in-probe-into-biden-familys-china-connections\/\" title=\"US Attorney Doc: IRS ... Grand Jury Subpoena to JPMorgan for Hunter, James Biden Bank Records In Probe into Biden Family...s China Connections\">issue grand jury subpoenas<\/a>, Boasberg emphasized that power &ldquo;is not unlimited&rdquo; and cannot be used for coercive or political ends. &#65532;<\/p>\n<p>DOJ lawyers argued that the court applied too strict a standard at the investigative stage and misinterpreted the timeline of the investigation. But Boasberg said those arguments failed to address the core issue: whether the subpoenas&rsquo; &ldquo;dominant purpose&rdquo; was legitimate or improper.<\/p>\n<p>The ruling marks another legal victory for Powell, who has characterized the investigation as a pretext designed to give Trump greater leverage over the Fed and its monetary policy decisions.<\/p>\n<p>Under the relevant legal options for the DOJ&rsquo;s fight to obtain the subpoenas, the department had to ask Boasberg to reconsider his March 13 block first. The DOJ is expected to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Pirro <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4491530\/judge-boasberg-blocks-doj-subpoenas-jerome-powell\/\">previously signaled in a fiery rant<\/a> against the judge&rsquo;s initial block of the subpoenas last month. Pirro has said her office intends to continue pursuing the investigation.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, stands for a portrait at E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington, March 16, 2023. (Carolyn Van Houten\/The Washington Post via AP, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Boasberg has increasingly become a lightning rod for criticism from Republicans and Trump allies, who have accused him of overstepping his authority in a series of high-profile rulings against the administration. Trump himself has blasted the judge as &ldquo;crooked&rdquo; and called for his impeachment after Boasberg blocked deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, prompting a rare public acknowledgment from Chief Justice <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-roberts\/\">John Roberts<\/a> last March, who said impeachment is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3351272\/chief-justice-roberts-impeachment-not-appropriate-judges-ruling-against-trump\/\">not an appropriate response<\/a> to judicial disagreements.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Congressional Republicans have gone further, with some introducing articles of impeachment and others urging the D.C. Circuit to sideline Boasberg, while the DOJ previously filed, and ultimately lost, a<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4442899\/judge-dismisses-doj-judicial-misconduct-complaint-james-boasberg\/\"> misconduct complaint<\/a> accusing him of bias.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4491530\/judge-boasberg-blocks-doj-subpoenas-jerome-powell\/\">JUDGE JAMES BOASBERG BLOCKS DOJ SUBPOENAS AGAINST FED CHAIRMAN JEROME POWELL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>An appeal could <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >carry significant political consequences<\/a> for Trump&rsquo;s future Fed chair selection, given the time it could take to adjudicate the matter. It could even <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4440459\/thom-tillis-no-kevin-warsh-federal-reserve-chairman-complicate-nomination\/\">delay Senate consideration of Kevin Warsh<\/a>, Trump&rsquo;s nominee to replace Powell. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who has criticized the inquiry, has said he would seek to block Warsh&rsquo;s confirmation while litigation over the subpoenas remains unresolved.<\/p>\n<p>Powell, for his part, has indicated he does not plan to step down while the legal fight continues, setting up a prolonged clash.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ plans appeal after judge blocks Powell subpoenas<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2586953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26072705442283_0b151a.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[7420,4733,7076,8975,7001],"class_list":["post-2586952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-appeals","tag-court","tag-doj","tag-powell","tag-subpoenas"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26072705442283_0b151a.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2586952"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586952\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2586956,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586952\/revisions\/2586956"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2586953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2586952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2586952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2586952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}