Conservative-leaning justices had tough questions for whether President Donald Trump can fire a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, in a Supreme Court case that could have a major impact on monetary policy and the economy. 

Trump had attempted to oust Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook based on alleged misstatements she made on mortgage documents. Cook has denied any wrongdoing. 

The question in Trump v. Cook is whether a president can fire a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, or whether the institution created in 1913 has independence from the executive branch.

At oral arguments in the case on Wednesday, Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked if the court should consider the severity of an accusation in determining whether a firing is justified. 

“If she were accused of murder or something like that, if we’re talking about something that was really an infamous crime, should we take the nature of the crime into account?” Barrett asked. 

Solicitor General John Sauer said the court should consider the “sweeping, powerful authority over the entire United States economy” that a Federal Reserve governor has to set interest rates. He said the court should also consider how the board member’s objectionable conduct looks to “ordinary Americans.”

“There’s the appearance of having played........

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