PANews reported on April 27th, citing the Wall Street Journal, that North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis stated on Sunday that he would support Kevin Warsh's nomination as Federal Reserve Chairman, thus clearing the last major hurdle for Trump to select a successor to Powell. Tillis had refused to vote for Warsh for months, stating that he would not push for the confirmation of any Fed nominee as long as the Justice Department's criminal investigation into Powell continued, calling it an attack on the central bank's independence. However, the investigation appears to have concluded last Friday.