Anna Paulina Luna unleashes hell on Fox News host for his 'wild take' on Jerome Powell

Daily Mail​

5 days ago

Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna skewered a Fox Business host and demanded that he retract comments criticizing her criminal referral for Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
The Florida Republican recommended criminal charges against Powell to the Department of Justice earlier this week alleging he lied to Congress.
The effort made good on a promise she made the week before to hold him accountable for cost overruns in the Federal Reserve's Washington HQ remodel. The plan, originally approved by the Federal Reserve's board in 2017, has ballooned in cost from around 1.9 billion to $2.5 billion, prompting outrage from critics.
But Fox Business host Stuart Varney, a mainstay on the channel, called out Luna this week for setting a new precedent in recommending charges against Powell over a 'monetary policy.'
'Anna Paulina Luna ... she's taken the fight the Fed fight to a new level,' Varney said on his show. 'She's referred power to the Justice Department. She accuses him of lying to Congress about the expensive renovations at the Fed's headquarters.'
'Lying to Congress is a criminal offense if you have a dispute of a monetary policy, and that's what this is, and you can't change your opponent's mind, should you then charge him with corruption?' Varney asked. 'It seems like we're stepping over a line, and it reminds me of the lawfare harassment of candidate Trump.'
Catching wind of Varney's critique, Luna unleashed on the TV host.
'Stuart Varney should take the time to read my criminal referral for Jerome Powell before making uninformed statements on live television,' she posted on X Wednesday.
'Apparently, Varney is telepathic and knows how I think — and also thinks $700 million in mismanaged funds is no big deal? Wild take. You should retract your statement.'
Luna claims that Powell perjured himself twice while testifying to Congress about the remodel. Perjury comes with a potential for five years in jail and fines.
She accused the chairman of lying about the Federal Reserve's luxurious amenities in the Marriner S. Eccles and misreporting the progress of the renovations.
Luna is accusing Powell of false claims while testifying under oath during a Senate committee hearing.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought has sent a letter to Powell asking about his congressional testimony on the renovation project. The letter is seen as a pretext to fire Powell for 'cause' over the matter.
Vought has also accused the chairman of overseeing an 'ostentatious' remodeling effort.
Powell has defended the renovations as necessary regardless of the cost overruns.
'Both buildings were in need of significant structural repairs and other updates to make the buildings safe, healthy, and effective places to work, including the removal of asbestos and lead contamination, complete replacement of antiquated systems such as electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, as well as fire detection and suppression systems,' Powell wrote back to Vought.
After a recent meeting with the president last week, Luna predicted on X that Trump would soon fire Powell, though that has not happened yet.
Trump has for years lashed out at the chairman for his handling of the U.S. central bank, repeatedly slamming the Fed Chair Powell for not lowering interest rates and bestowing him with the nickname 'Too Late' Powell.
The chairman has taken a wait and see approach to interest rates, arguing that it is better for consumers to keep borrowing costs stable are global markets digest Trump's tariff plan.
The president has vacillated on firing Powell, a move that no president has taken before, but he may end up waiting out his term, which expires mid-2026.