WASHINGTON, April 25 -- The US Justice Department said yesterday it is dropping a criminal probe on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, paving the way for his replacement's Senate confirmation, amid concerns over President Donald Trump's attacks on the independent central bank.

"I have directed my office to close our investigation," US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced on X.

Pirro said the inspector general for the Fed would instead look into renovation cost overruns at its headquarters, which the Justice Department had been probing -- under heavy pressure from Trump.

However, she added that she would "not hesitate to restart a criminal investigation should the facts warrant doing so."

Trump has upended Washington norms by routinely c...