Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Senate committee obtains copy of Fauci's iPhone and weighs contempt charges — Senator Ron Johnson, chair of the Senate homeland security permanent subcommittee on investigations, announced that his committee obtained a backup copy of Anthony Fauci's iPhone, used during Fauci's tenure as NIAID director and during the Covid-19 pandemic response. The phone was transferred by the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Johnson stated the device would address questions Fauci refused to answer at a hearing on July 29, where Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right dozens of times. The committee is weighing whether to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress.
• Senate committee votes to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress — The Republican-controlled Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee voted to refer Dr. Anthony Fauci for contempt of Congress after he repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a July 29 hearing on his Covid-19 pandemic response. Committee chair Rand Paul argued Fauci's pardon negated his right to invoke self-incrimination protections. The committee voted to refer the matter to the Department of Justice for potential criminal prosecution, though a full Senate vote would normally be required and Democrats warned the process violated constitutional protections.
• Senate Committee Holds Dr. Fauci in Contempt — The Senate Homeland Security Committee has voted along party lines to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during questioning. This action reflects ongoing political tensions and scrutiny of public health officials.
• Senate Republicans vote to hold Dr. Fauci in contempt of Congress — Republican senators voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in contempt of Congress for invoking his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent during a Senate Homeland Security and Government Oversight Committee hearing on July 29. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times as Republican senators taunted and berated him. All Democrats voted against the contempt measure.
• Senate Committee Votes to Hold Dr. Fauci in Contempt — The Senate Homeland Security Committee has voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions during a hearing on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The vote follows Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment over 100 times. The committee, led by Sen. Rand Paul, bypassed the full Senate and sent the contempt referral directly to the DOJ, a move criticized by Democrats as illegitimate.

Supporting reports

• House Oversight Committee chair issues subpoena to Attorney General Bondi — House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) formally issued a subpoena requiring Attorney General Pam Bondi to appear before the committee on April 14 to testify under oath regarding DOJ handling of Epstein files.
• House Oversight Committee subpoenas Attorney General Pam Bondi over Epstein investigation — On March 17, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena requiring Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and associates, as well as DOJ compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Later that day, Democratic committee members walked out of a private briefing with Bondi after she refused to commit to complying with the subpoena and providing a deposition.
• House committee subpoenas Attorney General Pam Bondi over Epstein files handling — The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, chaired by Republican James Comer, formally subpoenaed Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Department of Justice's handling of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Lawmakers from both parties have criticized the DOJ for improperly redacting material, withholding names of potential criminals, and exposing survivor personal information. Bondi is required to appear for a deposition on April 14, 2026. The subpoena followed a March 4 committee vote in which five Republicans joined Democrats to authorize it.

Supporting reports

• Senator Thom Tillis opposed confirmation of any Federal Reserve nominee pending resolution of Powell investigation — On January 11, 2026, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, posted that there is no longer any doubt that "advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve" and stated that "it is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question." Tillis announced he would "oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed—including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy—until this legal matter is fully resolved."
• Senator Thom Tillis vows to block all Federal Reserve nominations — Senator Thom Tillis announced he would block all Federal Reserve nominations, including the upcoming chair vacancy, until the DOJ investigation into Powell is "fully resolved." Tillis, a member of the banking committee overseeing Fed appointments, stated on X that the investigation demonstrates the Trump administration is "actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve" and questioned the DOJ's credibility.
• Rep. Bacon expressed concern about DOJ independence in Powell investigation — Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) stated that while he believes the justice system works in the end, the Powell investigation "on the surface, it does appears this is DOJ going after Powell" and emphasized that "the independence of the Fed is vitally important."
• Rep. Lawler opposed pressure on Federal Reserve independence — Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) stated that while he believes Powell was late in addressing inflation and slow in lowering interest rates, "the independence of the Federal Reserve is paramount and I oppose any effort to pressure them into action."
• Republican senators demanded investigation into DOJ weaponization of federal law enforcement — Republican lawmakers publicly demanded an investigation into Trump's Department of Justice for weaponizing federal law enforcement against Federal Reserve Chair Powell. Senator Lisa Murkowski stated the investigation was coercive and noted that cost overruns on federal projects do not constitute grounds for criminal prosecution. Senator Thom Tillis blocked Trump's nominees to the Federal Reserve and Department of Homeland Security until the DOJ's conduct is investigated, also noting that Kristi Noem refused to appear before Congress.
• Sen. Murkowski characterized Powell investigation as coercion attempt — Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) stated that after speaking with Chair Powell, the administration's investigation is "nothing more than an attempt at coercion." She called for Congress to investigate DOJ if it believes project cost overruns warrant inquiry, and warned that loss of Federal Reserve independence would destabilize markets and the broader economy. She supported Sen. Tillis's position on blocking Fed nominees.
• Sen. Tillis announced opposition to any Fed nominees pending resolution of Powell investigation — Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Banking Committee where Republicans hold a one-seat majority, announced he will oppose confirmation of any Federal Reserve nominee, including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy, until the DOJ investigation into Powell is fully resolved. Tillis stated the investigation demonstrates that Trump administration advisers are actively pushing to end Federal Reserve independence.
• Former Fed Chairs and economic officials issued joint statement on Powell investigation — All living former Federal Reserve Chairs (Bernanke, Greenspan, Yellen), bipartisan former Treasury Secretaries (Geithner, Paulson, and others), and bipartisan former Council of Economic Advisers Chairs (Hubbard, Mankiw, Romer, Furman) issued a joint statement characterizing the criminal inquiry into Chair Powell as "an unprecedented attempt to use prosecutorial attacks to undermine" Federal Reserve independence. They warned that such actions occur in emerging markets with weak institutions and have no place in the United States.

Supporting reports

• Rep. Khanna reports bipartisan House effort to hold AG Bondi in contempt — Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) stated that the House is moving to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt, with support from Republicans including Rep. Thomas Massie. Khanna indicated that survivors and members of both parties are seeking specific DOJ Epstein materials including FBI witness interviews, Epstein emails, a 60-count draft indictment, and an 82-page prosecution memo. Khanna noted another DOJ Epstein release was expected that afternoon.