On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), accusing him of mortgage fraud related to a Maryland property Schiff purchased in 2009. In a post on Truth Social, Trump alleged Schiff misrepresented the home as a primary residence to receive better mortgage rates, claiming fraudulent behavior continued until 2020, when the property was reclassified as a secondary residence. Trump cited Fannie Mae’s Financial Crimes Division as the source of the information but provided no evidence.
Schiff, who was serving in the House of Representatives at the time of the 2009 purchase, firmly rejected the accusations, labeling them “baseless” and politically driven. Legal experts noted that the Constitution only requires members of Congress to be residents of their state at the time of their election, not throughout their term. Meanwhile, reporting indicated that Schiff had listed both his Maryland and California properties as his “principal residence” on various documents over the years.
Despite the initial intensity of his accusations, Trump appeared to backtrack slightly when questioned by reporters later on Tuesday. He said he wasn’t certain the fraud allegation was true but continued to describe Schiff as “a serious lowlife” and reiterated that he would like to see him “brought to justice.”
A spokesperson for Schiff dismissed the allegations, stating that mortgage lenders were aware of Schiff’s year-round use of both properties and that neither was a vacation home. The spokesperson emphasized Schiff’s transparency and said the matter had already been debunked. Fannie Mae declined to comment.
The ethics complaint that sparked the allegations was filed by Christine Bish, a Republican real estate investigator who unsuccessfully ran for Congress. Schiff responded in a video later Tuesday, calling the accusations another attempt at political retribution and vowing that the attacks would not deter him from holding Trump accountable.
