[Powell Confronts U.S. Department of Justice: Will Remain on the Board After Chair Term Ends if Investigated] BlockBeats News, March 16, according to a Reuters report, documents unsealed last Friday reveal that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's lawyer suggested a possibility during a January meeting with the Department of Justice: Powell may continue to serve as a Federal Reserve board member after his term as chair ends in May—a decision that would break precedent. These documents are part of a case in which the Federal Reserve is attempting to block the Department of Justice from issuing subpoenas related to a criminal investigation into Powell's handling of the renovation of the central bank's Washington headquarters. Last Friday, a district court judge ruled in favor of the Federal Reserve, blocking the subpoenas. During arguments opposing the Federal Reserve's motion, a Department of Justice lawyer stated that during a January 29 meeting, Powell's lawyer told U.S. District Attorney Jeannine Pirro: 'The Chair (Powell) believes that if he remains under investigation, he will not leave the board even after his term ends; and while he cannot assert the contrary, if he is no longer under criminal investigation, the Chair's image would be different, and at that point, the Chair would be able to freely make decisions focused on his family.' According to the documents, Powell's lawyer also stated that under the current circumstances, U.S. President Trump, who has been pressuring Powell to cut interest rates, 'does not have enough votes in the Senate to confirm a new board chair.' Powell's term as a board member will last until January 2028, spanning the upcoming November midterm elections and covering the final year of the Trump administration.