Senators Fight Harder Against Restitution For DOJ Weaponization Than Against Weaponization Itself
Republican Senators called it quits Thursday over a proposal to deliver restitution to the political victims of government weaponization, instead giving themselves paid vacation after balking at the idea that Americans deserve compensation for being targeted and mistreated by the federal government. As many as 25 Republican senators reportedly balked at the $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization […]18 Voter Fraud Prosecutions Racking Up While Republican-Led Congress Ignores SAVE Act
Every time politicians torpedo needed election reforms like the SAVE America Act they are damaging our republic.Trump's Fed pick clears a major hurdle
President Donald Trump's pick to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell just got one step closer to confirmation.
The White House can breathe a sigh of relief after the Senate Banking Committee advanced Kevin Warsh's nomination along party lines in a 13-11 vote on Wednesday. Warsh's nomination is now headed to the Senate floor, where he is expected to be confirmed in a simple majority vote.
'This is a necessary and appropriate measure.'
Warsh's main hurdle was none other than Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who vowed to oppose the nominee until the administration dropped its investigation into Powell's overbudget construction project of the Fed building.
The retiring Republican's calls were heard by the White House, and the DOJ's investigation was punted to the inspector general, which was enough to regain Tillis' support for the committee vote.
RELATED: Trump administration calls off criminal probe into Fed Chair Powell
"I welcome the Inspector General's investigation," Tillis said in a post on X, despite his vehement opposition to the DOJ-led investigation into Powell. "This is a necessary and appropriate measure, and I have confidence it will be conducted thoroughly and professionally."
"Only a criminal referral from the inspector general would cause a reopening of the investigation," Tillis added. "With these assurances, I look forward to supporting Kevin Warsh's confirmation."
Powell, whose term expires in May, said he will remain in the role until his replacement is officially confirmed.
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Trump administration calls off criminal probe into Fed Chair Powell
President Donald Trump's administration has dropped the criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for his multibillion-dollar renovation project.
The Department of Justice dropped the probe just days after Trump's pick to replace Powell, Kevin Warsh, testified before the Senate Banking Committee. After the hearing, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina reiterated that he would not support Warsh's confirmation unless the investigation into Powell is dropped.
'I will not hesitate to restart a criminal investigation.'
Tillis is one of seven Republicans on the 13-member committee, meaning his vote is needed to advance Warsh's nomination to the Senate floor, presuming no Democrat defectors.
After Tillis once again made his demands clear, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced the investigation was dropped.
RELATED: The lone Republican who could tank Trump's Fed pick
"This morning the Inspector General for the Federal Reserve has been asked to scrutinize the building costs overruns — in the billions of dollars — that have been borne by taxpayers," Pirro said in a post on X. "The IG has the authority to hold the Federal Reserve accountable to American taxpayers."
"I expect a comprehensive report in short order and am confident the outcome will assist in resolving, once and for all, the questions that led this office to issue subpoenas," Pirro added. "Accordingly, I have directed my office to close our investigation as the IG undertakes this inquiry. Note well, however, that I will not hesitate to restart a criminal investigation should the facts warrant doing so."
Warsh's confirmation now awaits a vote from the Senate Banking Committee before proceeding to the Senate floor, where the nominee will need to secure a simple majority. Powell's term expired in March, but he said he will remain in the role until Warsh is confirmed.
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The lone Republican who could tank Trump's Fed pick
President Donald Trump's pick to overhaul the Federal Reserve has enjoyed support from the commander in chief's allies in the Senate, but one lawmaker just might shut down the nominee's confirmation.
Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to chair the Federal Reserve back in January after publicly feuding with current Chair Jerome Powell for failing to cut interest rates and for his multibillion-dollar renovation of the Fed building. Since then, Warsh took the first step of the confirmation process by going to Capitol Hill to testify before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday.
'Political interference or legal intimidation is non-negotiable.'
Warsh received glowing reviews from the seven Senate Republicans after his hearing, including from GOP Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who has butted heads with Trump in the past. Despite Tillis' endorsement of Warsh, the retiring senator drew a bold red line for the administration that could cost the confirmation.
"Kevin Warsh is a great nominee to be chairman of the Federal Reserve, and I look forward to supporting him out of committee once the DOJ drops their bogus investigation into Chairman Powell that threatens the independence of the Fed," Tillis said in a statement.
RELATED: Federal Reserve makes key decision on interest rates — and Trump won't like it
Tillis has repeatedly demanded that the administration suspend its investigation into Powell, even threatening to block nominees he supports, like Warsh. Notably, the Senate Banking Committee is composed of seven Republicans and six Democrats, meaning Tillis' vote is necessary to advance Warsh's nomination assuming the vote falls along party lines.
"The Department of Justice continues to pursue a criminal investigation into Chairman Jerome Powell based on committee testimony that no reasonable person could construe as possessing criminal intent," Tillis said following Warsh's nomination in January. "Protecting the independence of the Federal Reserve from political interference or legal intimidation is non-negotiable."
"My position has not changed: I will oppose the confirmation of any Federal Reserve nominee, including for the position of Chairman, until the DOJ’s inquiry into Chairman Powell is fully and transparently resolved."
One viable "off-ramp" that has been floated by Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who chairs the committee, is to create a subcommittee to investigate and oversee the Federal Reserve's over-budget construction. This would, in effect, replace the Department of Justice's criminal probe into Powell but still allow the administration and its allies to investigate the Fed.
It's unclear whether the DOJ would drop the investigation, but Tillis expressed enthusiasm about the potential resolution.
“I not only think it’s a good off-ramp, but I also think it’s good governance,” Tillis said.
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Republicans receive another grim midterm forecast
Democrats and Republicans alike are eyeing the home stretch before the 2026 primaries, but the latest forecast suggests the GOP is facing a major disadvantage.
Republicans have enjoyed a supermajority following the 2024 election after Americans elected President Donald Trump back to the White House and the GOP took back the Senate and maintained its narrow House majority. The electoral forecast is now indicating that the pendulum will swing back in favor of Democrats, with four key races shifting away from Republicans.
None of the Democrat-held seats seem to be leaning Republican.
The Cook Political Report was initially tracking Senate races for Georgia, which is held by incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff, and North Carolina, which is held by retiring Republican Thom Tillis, as toss-ups that could go either way. The same report also had the Ohio Senate race leaning Republican and the Nebraska Senate race as a solid Republican rating.
As of Monday, all of these races have shifted in favor of Democrats.
RELATED: Democrats’ latest victory in deep-red Mar-a-Lago district offers bleak midterm forecast
None of the Democrat-held seats seem to be leaning Republican. Michigan's Senate seat, which is held by retiring Democrat Gary Peters, is rated as a toss-up. Maine's Senate seat, held by Republican Susan Collins, is also notably rated a toss-up.
Republicans currently hold 53 seats and can afford to lose a maximum of just two Senate seats in order to maintain their majority, though Vice President JD Vance could always break any tie votes.
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