DOJ Launches Criminal Probe into Fed Chair plus Paid Pro Agitators Target ICE Nationwide

Summary

The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: DOJ Launches Criminal Probe into Fed Chair plus Paid Pro Agitators Target ICE Nationwide
Date: January 17, 2026
Host: Ben Ferguson (Premiere Networks)

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Ben Ferguson delivers an unfiltered breakdown of two headline-making stories: the Department of Justice opening a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and President Trump vowing to expose funding behind “professional agitators” targeting ICE agents nationwide. Ferguson presents exclusive statements from Powell and Trump, alongside in-depth commentary and updates on the protests and law enforcement response in Minneapolis.

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Main Segments & Key Discussion Points

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1. DOJ Criminal Investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell

Timestamps: [05:58–12:21]

Background and New Developments

• Ben opens with the shocking news that President Trump’s administration has launched a criminal probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
• Powell publicly responded in an unprecedented video, vowing not to "bow to the Trump administration and its intimidation."
  • The criminal investigation stems from Powell’s congressional testimony regarding expensive renovations at the Fed’s Washington, D.C. headquarters.
• The central theme is the perceived threat to the independence of US monetary policy — a point stressed both by Powell and the media.

Powell’s Statement: Video Highlights

• Powell's own words (full excerpt) are played (07:59), emphasizing both respect for the rule of law and grave concern about political interference:
  • Quote: "The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President." (Jerome Powell, 08:45)
  • Quote: "This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions, or whether instead, monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation." (Jerome Powell, 09:14)

Ferguson’s Analysis

• Ben notes the rarity and seriousness of the Fed Chair releasing a video message:
  • He observes Powell’s repeated emphasis that “no one, certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve, is above the law.”
• Discusses media framing: While the left and media suggest an attack on monetary policy independence, Ferguson stresses the DOJ’s stated priority of investigating abuse of taxpayer dollars.
  • Quote: "Maybe the media, you should look at the facts...maybe this is not about interest rates, but maybe [about] his own testimony and what he said to Congress." (Ben Ferguson, 11:47)

Noteworthy Details

• The grand jury subpoenas were delivered Friday; Powell’s video released after being served.
• The DOJ investigation is being overseen by Judge Jeanine, the D.C. U.S. Attorney, appointed by President Trump.
• The White House defers comment to the Department of Justice.

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2. Paid 'Pro Agitators' Targeting ICE – Trump’s Response and New Protests in Minneapolis

Timestamps: [12:21–18:12]

Trump’s Pledge and Commentary

• President Trump claims the woman shot by ICE in Minneapolis may have been a "professional agitator," promising to uncover who pays for the rapidly proliferating anti-ICE activities.
  • Quote: “They were harassing, they were following for days and for hours. And I think, frankly, they're professional agitators and I'd like to find out, and we are going to find out, who's paying for it with their brand new signs and all the different things.” (Donald Trump, 12:53)
  • Quote: “Law enforcement should not be in a position where they have to put up with this stuff.” (Donald Trump, 13:09)

Funding Allegations and Social Media Chatter

• US Department of Homeland Security retweets Republican Rep. Lance Gooden: "The anti-ICE mobs are anything but organic. Dark money is bankrolling these far-left groups like ICE Watch and lighting the fuse."
• Ferguson underscores the administration's framing: acknowledging a highly organized, paid movement targeting federal immigration enforcement.

On-the-Ground Reporting: Minneapolis Unrest

• Fox News segment ([14:49–17:19]) brings live updates from protests in Minneapolis:
  • Up to 1,000 additional federal officers being deployed to quell anti-ICE unrest, on top of 2,000 agents already in the city.
  • DHS Secretary Kristi Noem calls the incident domestic terrorism.
  • Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry disputes this, declaring the city safe despite the ICE incident, and chastises federal authorities for escalating tensions.
  • Quote: "As soon as they [Border Patrol] get out of their cars they are met with people who have those ear-piercing whistles, people resisting, trying to surround the car. There is really a highly organized anti-ICE, Anti–Border Patrol network here on the ground in the Twin Cities." (Fox News Reporter, 17:19)
  • Crowd control tactics used, including tear gas and pepper balls, as protestors attempt to block federal facilities.

Law Enforcement Perspective

• Border Patrol and ICE officials vow not to be deterred by local political opposition:
  • Quote: "We're out here to do a job and we're not going to stop until it’s done." (Border Patrol official cited in Fox News report, 17:34)
• DHS Assistant Secretary Trisha McLaughlin publicly supports the ICE agent’s self-defense claim.

Ferguson’s Takeaway

• The President and DHS are determined to trace back organizational and financial roots of anti-ICE agitation.
• Quote: "One thing's for sure, the President now has made it clear—we're going to find out exactly who's paying these individuals and what group is behind them." (Ben Ferguson, 17:56)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jerome Powell, on political pressure:
  "I have served at the Federal Reserve under four administrations, Republicans and Democrats alike. In every case, I have carried out my duties without political fear or favor, focused solely on our mandate of price stability and maximum employment. Public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats." [(09:23)]

• Donald Trump, on agitators:
  "These are professional agitators and law enforcement should not be in a position where they have to put up with this stuff." [(13:09)]

• Ben Ferguson, challenging the media narrative:
  "Maybe the media, you should look at the facts...maybe this is not about interest rates, but maybe his own testimony and what he said to Congress." [(11:47)]

• Fox News on the ground:
  "There is really a highly organized anti-ICE, Anti–Border Patrol network here on the ground in the Twin Cities." [(17:19)]

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Segment Timestamps

| Topic | Start | End | |------------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------| | DOJ probe of Fed Chair Jerome Powell | 05:58 | 12:21 | | Jerome Powell’s video statement | 07:59 | 09:49 | | Ben Ferguson analysis & DOJ/media framing | 09:49 | 12:21 | | Trump’s response to ICE agitators & Minneapolis coverage | 12:21 | 18:12 | | Fox News, Minneapolis unrest, and law enforcement response | 14:49 | 17:37 | | Final thoughts / Wrap-up | 17:56 | 18:12 |

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Summary & Tone

Ben Ferguson’s coverage is sharply critical of media and left-wing reactions, openly supportive of Trump’s initiatives, and embraces a combative, conspiratorial tone—especially regarding alleged “dark money” and the organization of anti-ICE protests. The episode provides direct excerpts from both Powell and Trump, hard-edged assessments, and a blend of news update and opinion, making it clear for listeners who value a conservative, inside-the-administration perspective.

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Transcript

[Ben Ferguson]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Ben Ferguson]

You're listening to 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson.

Good Saturday morning to you, Ben Ferguson with you. And these are some of the stories that you may have missed that we talked about this week on the 47 Morning Update. First up, in a shocking news event on Sunday night, the Fed chair, Jerome Powell says he's under criminal investigation and also put out an unprecedented video from the Fed saying he will not bow to the Trump administration and his intimidation. Also, President Donald Trump is pledging to uncover leftist groups that are countering ICE agents. We're seeing it happen all over the country. And the anti ICE mobs, well, they're anything but organic. So who is financing them? That coming up as well. But first, I want to tell you about an amazing opportunity right now that I'm involved in and I cannot wait for you to take advantage of it. I want you to take some incredible courses at Hillsdale College for free. You may not know this, but Hillsdale College has been influencing conservatives like myself for decades. They had a huge impact on Charlie Kirk's life. And even as memorial service, they talked about how Charlie took class after class after class at Hillsdale College. Hillsdale College is now offering for you, the listeners of this show, more than 40 free. I want to say that again, free online courses. That's right. More than 40 free online courses. You can learn about the works of C.S. lewis, the stories in the book of Genesis, the meaning of the U. S. Constitution, the rise and fall of the Roman republic, or the history of the ancient Christian church, all with Hillsdale College's free online courses. Right now, I'm personally taking the Constitution 101. In this course, you're going to explore the design and the purpose of the Constitution, the challenges it faced during the Civil War and how it has been undermined for more than a century by radical progressives and liberals. This 12 lecture course is self paced. It's another reason why I love it. So start whenever and wherever in our country. We need more Americans like you and I that understand the Constitution and can defend the freedom of of the American people against the left and their increasing encroachments on our God given rights. So start your classes today for free. Start your free Constitution 101 course right now. How do you do it? Go to Hillsdale Edu Morning Update to enroll and it's no cost, it's easy to get started. You got to use a special website, Hillsdale Edu Morning update Enroll for free Hillsdale Edu Morning Update. It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now.

Story number one, we are now learning.

President Trump's administration has opened a criminal probe into the Fed chair Jerome Powell. The central bank chair has condemned what he's describing as intimidation following grand jury subpoenas. President Trump's administration opening the criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve chairman in a development set to heighten concerns about the, quote, independence of the US Monetary policy. That is how the left and the media are spinning it already. Powell said on Sunday that the central bank has been served with grand jury subpoenas related to to his own testimony about the renovations to the Fed's headquarters in Washington, D.C. quote, the threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public rather than following the preferences of the President, Powell said in a rare video message. He said this is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure and intimidation. That is again the Fed chairman's own words. Now the federal prosecutors opening the criminal investigation, confirming it Sunday evening as well. Powell said that the probe was the result of just what he said, basically a political attack on him. Powell said that on Friday the Department of justice served the Federal Reserve with the grand jury subpoenas threatening the criminal indictment related to my testimony. In fact, here is Jerome Powell in his own words in a shocking video he released on Friday.

[Jerome Powell]

The Department of Justice served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas threatening a criminal indictment related to my testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last June. That testimony concerned in part a multi year project to renovate historic Federal Reserve office buildings. I have deep respect for the rule of law and for accountability in our democracy. No one, certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve is above the law. But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threats and ongoing pressure. This new threat is not about my testimony last June or about the renovation of the Federal Reserve buildings. It is not about Congress's oversight role. The Fed, through testimony and other public disclosures, made every effort to keep Congress informed about the renovation project. Those are pretexts. The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President. This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions, or whether instead, monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation. I have served at the Federal Reserve under four administrations, Republicans and Democrats alike. In every case, I have carried out my duties without political fear or favor, focused solely on our mandate of price stability and maximum employment. Public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats. I will continue to do the job the Senate confirmed me to do with integrity and a commitment to serving the American people. Thank you.

[Ben Ferguson]

It is a shocking move for the Federal Reserve to put out a video like this. A person familiar with the investigation also telling CNBC that they would not dispute the idea that the probe of Powell is related to the building renovation and his testimony to Congress saying, quote, I have deep respect for the rule of law and for accountability in our democracy. But as you heard again, Powell say, no one, certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve, is above the law. But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threat and ongoing pressure. No one, certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve, is above the law, saying it not once, but you heard there twice. And he says that this is a new threat. Now, the New York Times was the first to report the probe, citing officials briefed on the matter. The investigation is also being overseen by the U.S. attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. According to the newspaper, the office is led by the U.S. attorney. You know her as Judge Jeanine, a former New York State prosecutor, former Fox News host who was appointed to that job by President Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly blasted Powell for the Fed not cutting interest rates as much and as quickly as the president has demanded since entering the White House in January of 2025. The White House, by the way, not commenting at this moment, referring questions about the probe to the Department of Justice. But if you look at the investigation, it does actually just seem to be about one thing. Did Powell lie to Congress about the renovations, which became a flashpoint of the Federal Reserve building and those ongoing, well, renovations that the president has criticized. A DOJ spokesperson in a statement to cnbc, without saying the comment was about Powell, said, quote, the attorney general has instructed her U.S. attorneys to prioritize investigating any abuse of taxpayer dollars. So maybe to the media, take a step back. Maybe the media, you should look at the facts and maybe the media, you should stop jumping to conclusions and realize this maybe is not about interest rates, but maybe his own testimony and what he said to Congress will keep covering it. My bet is the president's probably going to be right on this one yet again.

Now, story number two.

President Donald Trump has come out and pledged to uncover the leftist groups that are countering ICE all over the country. President Trump said that he believes the woman that was fatally shot by a U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis last week may have been a professional agitator and indicated that the government will uncover the funding sources behind such anti law enforcement agitation nationwide. Here's the president in his own words.

[Donald Trump]

The woman and her friend were highly disrespectful of law enforcement. You saw that they were harassing, they were following for days and for hours. And I think frankly they're professional agitators and I'd like to find out, and we are going to find out who's paying for it with their brand new signs and all the different things. But these are professional agitators and law enforcement should not be in a position where they have to put up with this stuff. That woman and what her friend and what their other friends were doing to law enforcement, not just ice, law enforcement is outrageous.

[Ben Ferguson]

The president added that he would like to find out, and we're going to find out who's paying for it with their brand new signs and all the different things. But these are professional agitators and law enforcement should not be in a position where they have to put up with this stuff. What that woman and what her friend and what their other friends are doing to law enforcement, not just ice, law enforcement is outrageous. The US Department of Homeland Security retweeting a post in which Republican Representative Lance Gooden of Texas asserted that the anti ICE protesters are actually all just being paid for saying, quote, the anti ICE mobs are anything but organic. Dark money is bankrolling these far left groups like ICE Watch and lighting the fuse. Americans deserve to know who's cutting the checks. The lawmaker said in his post. A person weaponizing their vehicle against law enforcement is unacceptable and we're witnessing it happen all over the country. Fox News having Even more on this, and here's what they said.

Right now, DHS is deploying hundreds of more federal agents to Minnesota as violent anti ICE protests continue to rise in the state.

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Matt Fenn joins us live in Minneapolis with the details. Hey, Matt.

[Fox News Reporter]

Hi, Ainsley. DHS sources tell us up to 1,000 additional federal officers could surge Minneapolis here. That's on top of the already 2,000 agents on the ground. And this comes as DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is defending her assessment of the Renee Goode shooting.

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If you look at what the definition of domestic terrorism is, it completely fits the situation on the ground. This individual, as you saw in the video that we released just 48 hours after this incident, showed that this officer was hit by her vehicle. She weaponized it, and he defended his life and those colleagues around him and the public.

[Fox News Reporter]

But the Democratic mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Fry, disagrees and is slamming Secretary Noem. It sounds like she doesn't believe a single word that she is saying right now. Here's the thing. She's calling Minneapolis like this dystopian hellhole. You know how many shootings we've had so far this year?

[Jerome Powell]

Two.

[Fox News Reporter]

And one of them was ice. Two shootings in a large city so far this entire year. And one of them is ice. This is a safe city. ICE and Kristi Noem and everything they're doing is making it far less safe. And there's new video leading up to the moments of Renee Goode shooting death by an ICE agent on Wednesday. The video appears to show Goode's SUV partially blocking the street, honking her horn and apparently dancing in the driver's seat. Border Patrol tells us it's dangerous for agents to be blocked in by a car because there are so many anti ICE agitators who quickly surround them. A new video from last night apparently shows federal agents using crowd control tactics, firing tear gas and pepper balls at protesters outside the federal building where ICE detainees are being held. An independent photographer who was there says protesters tried to stop traffic in and out of the federal facility and they were met with forests. Now this is happening in a city where the mayor has told ICE to get the F out and highly organized anti ICE activists are patrolling the neighborhoods. We asked Border Patrol during a ride along if any of this is going to deter them. Absolutely not. We're out here to do a job and we're not going to stop in until it's done.

[Ben Ferguson]

If a mayor wants to say something that he's not for us. If anybody wants to say that they're not for us. That is not going to stop what we're doing in Minneapolis or anywhere across the country.

[Fox News Reporter]

And that was during a ride along with Border Patrol. I have to say driving around the city, as soon as they get out of their cars they are met with people who have those ear piercing whistles, people resisting trying to surround the car. There is really a highly organized anti ice, Anti Border Patrol network here on the ground in the Twin Cities.

[Ben Ferguson]

It's clear the President, United States of America wants to find out exactly who is weaponizing these individuals to go after ICE agents. And you can see it there as ICE put out saying these individuals are impeding law enforcement and they're weaponizing their vehicles against ice. The officer in this shooting was dofully acted in self defense. That is what the DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Trisha McLaughlin said on X. One thing's for sure, the President now has made it clear we're going to find out exactly who's paying these individuals and what group is behind them.

Thank you for listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now. And for more in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast and we will see you back here on Monday morning.

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[Jerome Powell]

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[Ben Ferguson]

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[Ben Ferguson]

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[Ben Ferguson]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.