Stocks slid in early trading on Monday hours after reports that the Department of Justice had opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell centered on the central bank leader's remarks to Congress about an office renovation project.Powell, who was appointed by Trump in 2017, issued a rare video message rebuking the investigation as a politically motivated effort to influence the Fed's interest rate policy.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 290 points, or 0.6%, while the S&P 500 fell 0.4%.The tech-heavy Nasdaq declined 0.3%.DOJ launches criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, he saysThe selloff on Monday also appeared to include reaction to a social media post from President Donald Trump advocating for a 10% cap on credit card interest rates for one year.
Shares of several major banks fell in early trading.The DOJ's criminal probe follows a a monthslong influence campaign undertaken by Trump as he has frequently slammed the Fed for what he considers a reluctance to significantly reduce interest rates.Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Jan.9, 2026.Seth Wenig/APThe criminal probe appears to center on allegations of false remarks made by Powell about a renovation of the Fed's headquarters during a congressional hearing in June.Popular ReadsState Department warns US citizens to leave VenezuelaJan 11, 12:35 PMMinneapolis ICE shooting updates: Protests remain peaceful despite arrestsJan 10, 11:20 PMFBI releases images of seized motorcycles as search for Ryan Wedding continuesDec 30, 4:51 PMTrump has repeatedly denounced Powell for alleged overspending tied to the central bank's $2.5 billion renovation project.
The Fed attributes spending overruns to unforeseen cost increases, saying that its building renovation will ultimately "reduce costs over time by allowing the Board to consolidate most of its operations," according to the central bank's website.Federal law allows the president to rem...