Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) is reportedly under criminal investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland for alleged mortgage fraud, according to a Trump administration source who spoke with Fox News.
The probe follows a criminal referral from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) detailing claims that Schiff falsified loan applications and property records over a span of more than a decade.
Ingraham: “Criminal Investigation Is Underway”
Fox News host Laura Ingraham broke the story Tuesday night on The Ingraham Angle, citing a senior Trump administration source who confirmed that DOJ officials are pursuing a criminal probe related to multiple mortgage fraud violations tied to Schiff’s real estate holdings in Maryland and California.
The Allegations
The FHFA referral, submitted in May by Director William Pulte to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche, accuses Schiff of:
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Falsifying bank documents and property records to obtain primary residence mortgage rates
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Misrepresenting property occupancy status on five Fannie Mae-backed loans
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Simultaneously claiming primary residence exemptions in two states to receive tax and mortgage benefits
According to the referral:
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In 2003, Schiff and his wife purchased a $870,000 home in Potomac, Maryland, backed by a $610,000 Fannie Mae mortgage at a favorable 5.625% rate, claiming it as their primary residence.
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Schiff reaffirmed this claim in loan refinances made in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013, even though he was serving in Congress as a California representative at the time.
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Meanwhile, Schiff also took a $7,000 annual homeowner’s tax exemption on a Burbank, California condo, which he also claimed as his primary residence.
The Maryland property was not listed as a secondary residence until 2020, according to Pulte’s letter.
Potential Charges: Wire Fraud, Bank Fraud, False Statements
The DOJ investigation reportedly centers on possible violations of several federal statutes, including:
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18 U.S. Code § 1343 – Wire Fraud
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18 U.S. Code § 1341 – Mail Fraud
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18 U.S. Code § 1344 – Bank Fraud
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18 U.S. Code § 1014 – False Statements to Financial Institutions
“Schiff appears to have falsified records in order to receive favorable loan terms,” Pulte wrote.
“He also appears to have been aware of the financial benefits of a primary residence mortgage when compared to a secondary residence mortgage.”
Schiff’s Defense: “Both Properties Are Occupied Year-Round”
In 2023, a spokesperson for Schiff told CNN:
“Adam’s California and Maryland addresses have been listed as primary residences for loan purposes because they are both occupied throughout the year and to distinguish them from a vacation property.”
However, critics argue that such statements do not align with IRS and mortgage lending rules, which typically allow only one primary residence at a time for tax and financial purposes.
Comparisons to Marilyn Mosby Case
The Fox News report also draws parallels to the 2023 conviction of Marilyn Mosby, former Baltimore City State’s Attorney, who was found guilty of making false statements on a mortgage application for a Florida condo. Observers note that federal prosecutors may view the Schiff case similarly.
