Stay Tuned with Preet Court to Trump: Drop Fed
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Mar 17, 2026 They unpack a rare court decision that threw out subpoenas directed at the Federal Reserve chair. They explore how presidential pressure and public statements factored into the judge’s reasoning. They connect this ruling to broader concerns about politicized probes and prosecutorial discretion.
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How Grand Jury Subpoenas Really Work
- Grand jury subpoenas are issued with very broad prosecutorial discretion and a low evidentiary threshold.
- Preet Bharara explains prosecutors can use subpoenas to both seek evidence of crimes and to confirm no crime occurred, often without grand jury involvement.
Judge Boasberg Blocks Subpoenas Against Powell
- Judge James Boasberg quashed subpoenas targeting Fed Chair Jerome Powell as pretextual and intended to harass or pressure him.
- Joyce Vance and Preet highlight the rarity of blocking subpoenas and that the judge found no evidence Powell committed a crime beyond displeasing the president.
Public Presidential Pressure Changes Prosecutorial Context
- The president's public statements and threats to fire officials created a context suggesting DOJ actions were politically motivated.
- Preet notes Trump publicly proclaimed Powell's culpability and threatened removal, which the court cited heavily in its opinion.