WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Sunday, August 17, 2025, President Donald Trump escalated his long-standing feud with Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) by releasing a video on Truth Social accusing the senator of mortgage fraud. The video, which quickly gained traction online, claims Schiff misrepresented his primary residence on loan documents to secure favorable mortgage terms for properties in California and Maryland. The allegations, first reported by Fox News, stem from a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation prompted by a May criminal referral from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).
According to the FHFA, Schiff allegedly falsified documents from 2003 to 2019, claiming a Potomac, Maryland, home as his primary residence while simultaneously listing a Burbank, California, condo as his primary home for tax purposes. “Adam Schiff said his primary residence was in Maryland to get a cheaper mortgage and rip off America,” Trump stated in the video, echoing his earlier Truth Social post calling Schiff a “scam artist.” The FHFA’s referral, detailed by The Independent, cites a Fannie Mae memo alleging a “sustained pattern of possible occupancy misrepresentation” on five loans.
Schiff, who led Trump’s first impeachment inquiry in 2019, swiftly denied the accusations. In a video response on X, he called the claims “baseless” and a “political retribution” attempt. “Since I led his first impeachment, Trump has repeatedly called for me to be arrested for treason,” Schiff remarked on CBS’s The Late Show on July 17, addressing Trump directly: “This bogus attack won’t deter me from holding you accountable.” His spokesperson, Marisol Samayoa, told CNN that Schiff’s dual-home arrangement, common among Congress members, was transparent and legal, as both residences were occupied year-round.
The DOJ’s Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office is probing potential charges, including wire fraud and bank fraud, which carry penalties of up to 30 years. Trump’s video has intensified scrutiny, with supporters like @JDunlap1974 on X claiming the DOJ “has Schiff 100% on mortgage fraud.” Critics, however, see the probe as politically motivated, noting Trump’s own $355 million civil fraud judgment in 2024. As the investigation unfolds, the clash underscores deep political divides.
Source: Fox News
