President Trump accuses Sen. Adam Schiff of mortgage fraud over Maryland residence claims, allegations Schiff strongly denies.

Allegations of Mortgage Fraud Spark Fierce Political Dispute

President Donald Trump escalated his criticism of Senator Adam Schiff on Tuesday, alleging that the California Democrat committed mortgage fraud by misrepresenting his primary residence on mortgage applications related to a Maryland property. The claims, amplified on Trump’s Truth Social account, reference a series of transactions stretching back to 2009 and cite findings purportedly uncovered by Fannie Mae’s Financial Crimes Division.

According to Trump, Schiff designated his Maryland residence as his primary home to secure better mortgage rates, despite his obligation to reside in California as a congressional representative. “Adam Schiff said that 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. I always knew Adam Schiff was a Crook,” Trump asserted, adding that the alleged fraud began with a refinance in February 2009 and persisted until the property’s designation was changed in October 2020.

Trump further declared that mortgage fraud is a serious crime and insisted that Schiff should be held accountable. Despite the forceful language, the president did not provide evidence to substantiate his claims. When pressed later in the day, Trump appeared to soften his position, stating, “I don't know about the individual charge, if that even happened, but Adam Schiff is a serious lowlife,” yet reaffirmed his desire to see Schiff “brought to justice.”

Schiff Responds: ‘Baseless Political Retribution’

Senator Schiff, who obtained the Maryland property in 2009 while serving in Congress and became a senator in January, firmly rejected the allegations. He described Trump’s statements as a “baseless attempt at political retribution” and asserted that they were designed to distract from the president’s own controversies. Schiff responded on social media, referencing past calls from Trump for his arrest and describing the latest episode as a continuation of a longstanding feud.

“This baseless attempt at political retribution won’t stop me from holding him accountable. Not by a long shot,” Schiff wrote, referencing his prominent roles in Trump’s impeachments and congressional investigations. A spokesperson for Schiff reiterated that the accusations have been previously debunked, emphasizing that lenders were fully aware of Schiff’s dual use of both homes and his status as a congressional representative. “He has always been completely transparent about this,” the spokesperson said, while declining to specify the official designation of the Maryland home. Fannie Mae declined to comment.

Public records cited in prior reporting indicate that Schiff listed both his Maryland and California residences as his principal residence in various documents from 2003 onward, and that he changed the Maryland property’s designation to a second home in 2020. The matter was originally raised by a real estate investigator who filed an ethics complaint in Congress.

Under the Constitution, members of Congress are required to be inhabitants of their state at the time of election, but are not prohibited from designating another state as their primary residence for mortgage purposes during their service.

The longstanding political rivalry between Trump and Schiff has been marked by contentious investigations, impeachment proceedings, and public disputes. As the controversy continues, Schiff maintains that he will not be deterred by what he calls politically motivated accusations, while Trump’s allegations fuel renewed debate over ethics in public office.