Senate Tillis urges DOJ to end Fed probe after meeting with Trump nominee by Max Rego - 03/11/26 1:34 PM ET by Max Rego - 03/11/26 1:34 PM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, praised President Trump’s nominee for chair of the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, but said he cannot vote for him amid the Department of Justice (DOJ) probing current Fed Chair Jerome Powell. “I thoroughly enjoyed my meeting yesterday with Fed Chair nominee Kevin Warsh,” Tillis wrote Wednesday on the social platform X . “He possesses impeccable credentials and a clear vision for maintaining the Fed’s independence while achieving its dual mandate.  “It is unfortunate that an ongoing investigation prevents me from voting for Kevin at this time.” Upon U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro launching a criminal investigation into Powell in January over cost overruns for the central bank’s renovation project, Tillis slammed the probe and said he would not support any of the president’s Fed nominees. Powell, whose term expires in May, has denied wrongdoing and argued in January that the investigation stemmed from Trump’s dissatisfaction with the central bank not lowering interest rates sufficiently or sooner last year.  The president nominated Warsh , a former Federal board of governors member, to succeed Powell earlier this year — weeks after the DOJ began investigating the incumbent chair. Tillis said Wednesday that he is “awaiting further clarification” from the U.S. District Court in the nation’s capital on the case. He also noted that seven GOP members of the Banking Committee, including chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.), have “stated that no crime was committed” during Powell’s testimony last June in which he discussed the renovations.  “I hope the DOJ moves quickly to conclude the investigation of Chairman Powell so that we can confirm Kevin Warsh to this critical role by May.” Scott struck a similar tone, saying on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that he hopes the criminal probe “goes away.” Warsh’s nomination must be voted on by the Banking Committee before it heads to the full Senate floor.  “That would allow for us to move very quickly to get Kevin Warsh [confirmed] as the next chairman of the Federal Reserve,” the South Republican added. Add as preferred source on Google Tags Donald Trump Jeanine Pirro Jerome Powell Kevin Warsh Thom Tillis Tim Scott Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email More Senate News See All Campaign Hern launches Senate bid for Mullin’s Oklahoma seat by Sarah Fortinsky 12 minutes ago Campaign  /  12 minutes ago