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President Donald Trump this week ratcheted up his campaign to pressure the Federal Reserve into lowering interest rates, as the Department of Justice launched a criminal probe against recently fired governor Lisa Cook based on flimsy allegations of mortgage fraud. Earlier this week, Cook sued the administration to keep her job, making the timing of the DOJ action especially suspect.

The move is a chilling escalation of Trump’s weaponization of the DOJ against perceived political opponents. It’s also part of an obvious and long-standing effort to gain control of the Fed. Like the politicization of law enforcement, seizing power over the central bank is a power gr

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