President Trump has accused Senator Adam Schiff of mortgage fraud, labeling him a “scam artist” and insisting he should be prosecuted. Trump’s claim, shared on Truth Social, centers on Schiff’s reported primary residence from 2009 to 2020. Trump alleged that Schiff claimed to live in Maryland to obtain more favorable mortgage terms while serving in Congress, despite representing California. He described it as a “sustained pattern of possible Mortgage Fraud” and said Schiff “needs to be brought to justice.”
Schiff responded on social media, pointing out that Trump has repeatedly called for his arrest over the years. He downplayed the new accusations, calling them a politically motivated attack. Schiff added that this would not stop him from holding Trump accountable.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which handles criminal referrals for mortgage fraud, declined to comment on Trump’s allegations.
The feud between Trump and Schiff stretches back years, intensifying when Schiff took a leading role in Trump’s first impeachment. Schiff, then chair of the House Intelligence Committee, was outspoken in his belief that Trump’s 2016 campaign had ties to Russia. Though the committee found no criminal conspiracy, Schiff argued that there was enough evidence to raise serious concerns.
Schiff also served on the House Select Committee that investigated the January 6 Capitol riot. That panel examined Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. Trump was later charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., but those charges were dismissed after his return to office in 2024 due to a Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.
This is not the first time Trump has made mortgage fraud accusations against his political opponents. In April, the Trump administration referred New York Attorney General Letitia James for possible prosecution, alleging she manipulated financial records to obtain government-backed loans. James’ attorney dismissed the referral as politically motivated retaliation, noting her successful civil case against Trump, which resulted in a $464 million judgment for financial fraud. That decision is currently under appeal.
Trump has also threatened legal action against other high-profile political figures. In 2024, he promised to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate President Biden and his family. At rallies, he has called for Vice President Kamala Harris to be impeached and prosecuted over immigration policies. During his 2016 campaign, Trump regularly led chants to imprison Hillary Clinton for using a private email server during her time as Secretary of State. He has also said that former Congresswoman Liz Cheney should be jailed for her work on the House committee that investigated January 6.
Trump’s rhetoric reflects a long-standing pattern of using legal threats against those who oppose him, a tactic that continues to draw attention as he pursues his second term in office.
