Judge blocks justice department from subpoenaing Fed chair Jerome Powell

Trump DoJ's investigation was purportedly about the management of the central bank's renovation

A federal judge on Friday blocked the justice department from serving subpoenas to Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell in an inquiry purported to be about the management of the central bank's renovation.

Powell disclosed the surprise investigation on 11 January, and described the move as a threat to Fed independence and part of the Trump administration's attempts to pressure the Fed to cut rates.