Fed Chief Powell, other officials owned securities central bank bought during Covid pandemic

But they raise further questions about the Fed's conflict of interest policies and the oversight of central bank officials. Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren held between $151,000 and $800,000 worth of real estate investment trusts that owned mortgage-backed securities. He made as many as 37 separate trades in the four REITS while the Fed purchased almost $700 billion in MBS. Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin held $1.35 million to $3 million in individual corporate bonds purchased before 2020. Barkin declined to comment but he did not appear to have any say over the individual corporate bonds purchased by the Fed.