Trump Accuses Senator Schiff of Mortgage Fraud Over Maryland Residence; Senator Denies Allegations

President Donald Trump launched a fierce attack on Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Tuesday, reviving a controversy dating back to 2024 that accuses Schiff of mortgage fraud involving his Maryland home. Trump alleged that Schiff misrepresented the status of the property to obtain more favorable mortgage terms, claims that Schiff vehemently denies.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump labeled Schiff a “scam artist” and claimed that Schiff had purchased a house in Maryland in 2009, while serving in Congress, but falsely listed it as his primary residence only in 2020. According to Trump, this was done to secure better mortgage rates and terms from Fannie Mae, the government-sponsored enterprise that has been under federal oversight since the 2008 financial crisis.

Trump asserted that Fannie Mae’s Financial Crimes Division had uncovered evidence pointing to potential mortgage fraud. Schiff, however, has dismissed these accusations as completely unfounded.

Trump’s post stated:
“I have always suspected Shifty Adam Schiff was a scam artist. Now I learn that Fannie Mae’s Financial Crimes Division has concluded that Adam Schiff engaged in a sustained pattern of possible mortgage fraud. Schiff claimed his primary residence was in Maryland to get a cheaper mortgage and rip off America, when he must live in California because he was a Congressman from California. The fraud allegedly began with the refinance of his Maryland home on February 6, 2009, and continued through multiple transactions until the Maryland property was correctly designated as a second home on October 13, 2020. Mortgage fraud is very serious, and Crooked Adam Schiff (now a Senator) needs to be brought to justice.”

Notably, Trump did not present any concrete evidence to support these claims in his post.

Later in the day, when pressed about the accusations during an interview, Trump appeared less certain about the details. “I don’t know about the individual charge, if that even happened, but Adam Schiff is a serious lowlife,” Trump said. When asked what he meant by wanting Schiff “brought to justice,” Trump replied, “I’d love to see him brought to justice.”

Legal Residence and Mortgage Details

The controversy centers on whether Schiff’s designation of his Maryland property as a primary residence was appropriate while he served as a member of Congress representing California. Constitutional requirements only mandate that members of Congress be inhabitants of their state at the time of election, not necessarily throughout their entire term. Therefore, it is not uncommon for members to have residences in multiple states.

Records indicate that Schiff had identified both his California and Maryland homes as “principal residences” on various mortgage and official documents over the years. According to reports, Schiff refinanced the Maryland property several times—in 2009, 2011, and 2013—and labeled it as his primary residence in mortgage paperwork. Simultaneously, he also listed his California apartment as his main address on other financial documents. It was only in October 2020 that the Maryland home was officially reclassified as a secondary residence.

These findings came to light thanks to Christine Bish, a real estate investigator based in Sacramento who also ran for Congress as a Republican last year. Bish filed an ethics complaint against Schiff, arguing that the mortgage paperwork inconsistencies amounted to fraud.

In response, Schiff has maintained that all the paperwork was transparent and legal. A spokesperson for the senator told Fox News Digital that mortgage lenders were fully aware of Schiff’s congressional role and his intended use of both properties year-round, asserting that neither home was used as a vacation property.

Fannie Mae declined to comment on the allegations, citing privacy policies regarding mortgage accounts.

Political Fallout

Schiff dismissed Trump’s accusations as politically motivated attacks designed to undermine him. On social media platform X, Schiff wrote, “Since I led his first impeachment, Trump has repeatedly called for me to be arrested for treason. So in a way, I guess this is a bit of a letdown. And this baseless attempt at political retribution won’t stop me from holding him accountable. Not by a long shot.”

Schiff’s team emphasized that these allegations have been thoroughly debunked and portrayed Trump’s accusations as part of a pattern of retaliatory attacks against political opponents.

Context and Broader Implications

This dispute between Trump and Schiff fits into a larger narrative of ongoing political feuds, where personal and legal allegations are often wielded as tools to damage reputations and rally support among partisan bases. Trump’s post revived questions about the propriety of holding multiple residences and the intricacies of mortgage law for public officials.

Experts note that having multiple homes and designating one as a primary residence for tax or mortgage purposes is not uncommon among politicians who split time between Washington, D.C., and their home states. The key legal issue hinges on whether any misrepresentation was intentional and constituted fraud, which so far has not been proven in Schiff’s case.

Looking Forward

As of now, no formal investigation has been announced regarding Schiff’s mortgage arrangements, and the senator continues to serve without legal repercussions. The claims by Trump remain allegations without public evidence and have been met with skepticism by many political observers.

The incident underscores the highly charged atmosphere surrounding prominent political figures, where accusations can quickly escalate into major news events—even without substantive proof.

For now, both Trump and Schiff remain locked in a war of words, with Trump continuing to attack Schiff publicly, while Schiff calls the charges baseless and focuses on his legislative work.