meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Journal.

Why is the Fed Chair Facing a Criminal Investigation?

The Journal.

The Wall Street Journal

News, Daily News, Business News

4.25.8K Ratings

🗓️ 13 January 2026

⏱️ 19 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

After receiving grand jury subpoenas from the Justice Department last week, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the investigation was part of a pressure campaign to get the Fed to lower interest rates. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos explains how the investigation could change who controls monetary policy in the future. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Is the Economy Getting Better or Worse? The Fed Says It’s Hard to Tell - Who Will Be the Next Fed Chair? Maybe Kevin Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

On Sunday night, my colleague Nick Timrose was at home, going about his usual routine.

0:11.5

I had been washing the dishes and thinking I was going to be putting my kids to bed.

0:16.1

Always an exciting time in Washington these days.

0:20.3

But then, in the middle of Sunday night football, around 7.30 p.m. Eastern, a two-minute video

0:26.6

appeared on the Federal Reserve's X account. This was an extraordinary video.

0:32.8

It featured Fed Chair Jerome Powell in a gray suit in front of an American flag.

0:38.9

Good evening.

0:40.6

On Friday, the Department of Justice served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas,

0:46.0

threatening a criminal indictment.

0:48.4

In a stunning move, Powell publicly broke the news that the Federal Reserve was under criminal investigation by the Justice

0:54.6

Department, something that's never happened before.

0:58.5

This unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threats

1:03.7

and ongoing pressure.

1:06.4

Powell was very direct. He said this action was a political move on the part of the Trump administration,

1:12.6

intended to intimidate the Fed into lowering interest rates.

1:16.6

The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates

1:21.6

based on our best assessment of what will serve the public,

1:25.6

rather than following the preferences of the president.

1:28.8

On Sunday night, President Trump said he didn't know anything about the subpoenas.

1:37.4

As you were watching the video, what was going through your mind?

1:41.4

You know, Powell has been very composed and measured. This is a man who chooses his words

1:46.9

extremely carefully. Watching that video, you couldn't help but recognize that a line had been crossed,

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Wall Street Journal, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Wall Street Journal and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.