A statement released via the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs criticised a U.S. Department of Justice announcement and called on the Senate not to proceed with the nomination of Kevin Warsh as Chair of the Federal Reserve, portraying it as part of President Donald Trump’s attempt to take control of the central bank. The statement alleged the Justice Department was threatening to restart a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Powell while not dropping a criminal probe involving Governor Cook, which it characterised as baseless. It argued these steps were intended to clear the path for Warsh’s appointment and warned that attempts to influence the Federal Reserve were ongoing.