Federal Reserve Chairman Sued for Alleged Perjury
WASHINGTON – Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FLA.) filed a lawsuit against Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Monday, claiming he misled Congress regarding the renovations of a new headquarters that she likened to the Palace of Versailles.
Powell, 72, rejected assertions that the National Mall’s Federal Reserve headquarters underwent luxury upgrades, such as a VIP dining area and a rooftop garden, insisting that the building “did not have it” and was in dire need of renovations.
However, both of these claims have been deemed false, based on the crime referral Luna submitted to the Department of Justice over the weekend.
Luna pointed out that, according to the Federal Reserve’s final submission to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), most of these allegations (with the exception of the beehive) were at odds with the actual project details.
She further noted that the Federal Reserve completed a significant renovation of the Eccles building from 1999 to 2003, which included complete replacements of roofs, overhauls of all major systems, and updates to interior and courtyard areas.
Last week, there were rumors that President Trump was contemplating firing Powell, although he later remarked to reporters that it was “very unlikely.”
The current administration has voiced strong criticism of the Fed’s reluctance to implement cuts amidst global tariffs, raising concerns that such a stance could contribute to inflation, according to economic experts.
Potential successors to Powell include Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent, White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett, and former Fed governor Kevin Wahsh.
Legal experts often assert that proving perjury is one of the most challenging federal crimes, but Luna emphasized that Powell’s misstatements were more than just “minor misstatements.”
“President Powell intentionally misled both Congress and the administrative staff about the nature of the taxpayer-funded project,” she stated.
Furthermore, she remarked, “Lying under oath is a serious crime, particularly for those overseeing our monetary system and public trust.”
A representative from the DOJ was contacted for comment regarding this situation.
