On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), reviving allegations from 2024 that Schiff committed mortgage fraud. Trump accused Schiff of falsely claiming a Maryland property as his primary residence for better mortgage terms, which Schiff strongly denies.
In a Truth Social post, Trump labeled Schiff a “scam artist,” claiming he fraudulently identified his Maryland house—purchased in 2009 while serving in Congress—as a primary residence. Trump said this was done to secure favorable rates from Fannie Mae, a government-backed mortgage firm. He alleged that Fannie Mae’s Financial Crimes Division discovered a pattern of fraud extending through multiple refinancing transactions until 2020.
Trump emphasized the seriousness of the accusations but failed to provide direct evidence. Later, when questioned by reporters, he appeared to backpedal slightly, saying he wasn’t sure about the specific details but reaffirmed his desire to see Schiff “brought to justice.” Schiff, meanwhile, maintains that the allegations are politically motivated and baseless.
Reports indicate that Schiff listed both his Maryland and California residences as “primary” on different documents over the years, raising questions. However, constitutional requirements only mandated that Schiff reside in California at the time of his election, not continuously. Critics argue this undermines the fraud claim.
The pattern of dual residence claims was first flagged by Christine Bish, a Republican real estate investigator and former Congressional candidate, who filed an ethics complaint. Schiff’s spokesperson rebutted the accusations, stating that lenders were aware of his congressional duties and dual home use, and that Schiff had always been transparent.
Schiff dismissed Trump’s claims as politically charged retaliation, especially following Schiff’s role in Trump’s first impeachment. In a video response, Schiff called the allegations “without merit” and emphasized that they wouldn’t deter him from continuing to challenge Trump.
