Justice department investigates handling of Adam Schiff’s mortgage fraud case | Trump administration
The justice department is investigating how two Trump allies handled the investigation into whether California senator Adam Schiff committed mortgage fraud, according to a copy of the subpoena obtained by the Guardian and a person familiar with the matter.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s office is leading the investigation into Schiff, which is evolving as an extension of the main case; It’s a notable development as the justice department is essentially investigating the activities of two close allies of the president.
A federal grand jury in Maryland, where prosecutors are investigating mortgage allegations against Schiff, issued a subpoena to Christine Bish, an associate of federal housing finance agency (FHFA) chief Bill Pulte. and a Republican congressional candidate in California.
The subpoena asked Bish: Who applied before? An ethics complaint against Schiff accusing him of mortgage fraud, his communications with Pulte, people claiming to work for him, and people claiming to work for Ed Martin, chairman of the justice department’s arms committee. The subpoena also requests contact with Robert Bowes and Scott Strauss.
Bish he told CNN He said that when he appeared before the grand jury, prosecutors “seemed more concerned” about investigating “whether there was a conspiracy or collusion between me and Pulte or between me and Ed Martin.”
ABC News Bowes, who claimed to be an expert in financial fraud, reportedly reached out to Bish and spoke with him without the knowledge of Maryland prosecutors or FBI agents. Strauss also reached out to him and asked him to send documents about Schiff to a private email, ABC reported.
Both Pulte and Martin are strongly aligned with Trump and have helped him use the levers of the federal government to punish political enemies, including Schiff and New York attorney general Letitia James.
According to MS NOWThe investigation is examining whether Pulte and Martin improperly assigned unauthorized individuals to investigate mortgage fraud allegations against Schiff and possibly James.
Blanche and attorney general Pam Bondi have shown some resistance to mortgage fraud investigations. Earlier this year, they tried to protect Virginia’s top federal prosecutor, Erik Siebert, from being fired for resisting efforts to charge James. They failed. Siebert resigned and Trump appointed Lindsey Halligan, who continued the accusations against James and former FBI director James Comey.
The investigation could be a preemptive effort by the justice department to forestall defenses expected from Schiff if he is indicted. But if misconduct by Pulte or Martin is discovered, the case could be doomed. The case against Schiff stalled because prosecutors failed to present sufficient evidence. NBC reported last month.
Schiff’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the justice department also declined to comment.
Pulte referred Schiff, James, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and California congressman Eric Swalwell to the justice department for alleged mortgage fraud, all of whom denied wrongdoing.
Pulte’s tactics have come under repeated scrutiny. It eliminated the FHFA inspector general, who is usually responsible for handling mortgage fraud accusations. And last week the Wall Street Journal reported: he lifted Ethics officials are investigating whether FHFA officials improperly accessed James’ mortgage information.
