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Senator Adam Schiff has officially created a legal defense fund amid investigations led by the Justice Department into allegations of mortgage fraud.
Getting into it: First reported by the New York Times, the “Senator Schiff Legal Defense Fund,” established on August 15, is intended to help Schiff respond to what he calls a politically charged investigation rooted in retaliation for his past efforts to “hold President Donald Trump accountable.” While Schiff has not detailed the inner workings of the fund publicly, a spokesperson said it would allow him to “fight back against these baseless smears while continuing to do his job.” Schiff has also retained former US Attorney Preet Bharara (an outspoken Trump critic) to lead his defense.
This move comes as Schiff is being investigated for mortgage fraud for allegedly falsely representing his Maryland residence as his primary home, allowing him to secure better financing terms while also owning a home in California. According to Trump and DOJ sources, Schiff refinanced the Maryland property in 2009 and didn’t officially designate it as a secondary residence until 2020. Schiff disputes any wrongdoing, saying his mortgage lender was always aware of his dual residency and that he only claimed the homestead exemption in California. He also stated that most members of Congress maintain residences in both their home states and Washington, DC, due to job requirements.
The DOJ’s investigation is being overseen by Ed Martin, a controversial appointee whom Schiff had previously blocked from nomination. Schiff’s attorney, Preet Bharara, has condemned Martin’s involvement as a “brazenly partisan” effort and “the very definition of weaponization of the justice process.”
Adding further tension, FBI Director Kash Patel recently released a declassified whistleblower statement alleging Schiff leaked classified information during the 2016 Russia investigation (claims Schiff’s office called “categorically false” and stemming from a “discredited” former staffer). Notably, these allegations were previously reviewed by the Justice Department and found lacking in credibility and substance.
