DOJ investigation of Fed Chair Powell sparks backlash, support for Fed independence

DOJ investigation of Fed Chair Powell sparks backlash, support for Fed independence: a running story on the front pages of 6 newsrooms from 12 January 2026 to 31 January 2026, 22 headlines over 20 days.

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As it ran

31 January 2026

• Wall Street Journal The former Fed governor has criticized Jerome Powell, cultivated ties to Trump’s circle and touted the president’s economic agenda.
• CNN Trump nominates inflation hawk Kevin Warsh to replace Jerome Powell as Fed chair

30 January 2026

• CNN With only two Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell lists what advice he would give to his successor given his expansive experience.

29 January 2026

• CNN With only two Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell lists what advice he would give to his successor given his expansive experience.

21 January 2026

• Wall Street Journal Two U.S. senators demand that Trump officials turn over records related to the criminal probe of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, calling it a “serious misuse of power.”

20 January 2026

• Al Jazeera US Fed Chair Powell to attend Supreme Court session on Cook case: Report
• AP AP Source: Fed Chair Powell to attend Supreme Court argument on Cook case

17 January 2026

• AP Criminal investigation raises key question: Whether Chair Powell leaves Fed in May

14 January 2026

• BBC News World central banks 'stand in solidarity' with Fed chair after US threatens criminal charges
• AP Top central bankers express 'full solidarity' with Fed Chair Powell in clash with Trump

13 January 2026

• CNN Bessent unhappy with criminal investigation of Fed Chair Powell
• CNN Stocks shrug, hit record highs after Trump ups the ante against Jerome Powell and the Fed
• Wall Street Journal After receiving grand jury subpoenas, the Fed chair spent the weekend deciding how to respond. By Sunday, he had his answer.
• Wall Street Journal Capital Account | Probe of Powell Is Also a Warning to Next Fed Chair
• BBC News Former Fed chairs condemn criminal investigation into Jerome Powell
• New York Times What to Know About the Criminal Investigation of the Fed Chair
• BBC News Trump faces extraordinary moment in spat with Fed chair
• AP Federal Reserve Chair Powell says DOJ has subpoenaed central bank, threatens criminal indictment
• AP DOJ investigation of Fed Chair Powell sparks backlash, support for Fed independence
• Al Jazeera Republican lawmakers break from US president on Fed chair indictment

12 January 2026

• Wall Street Journal The Fed received grand jury subpoenas from the DOJ that threatened a criminal indictment related to Powell’s testimony about the central bank’s renovations
• Wall Street Journal Chair Powell said the investigation was a pretext as part of President Trump’s ongoing campaign to pressure the Fed to lower interest rates.