Trump Calls for Schiff To Be Jailed Over Mortgage Fraud: ‘Big Trouble’
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The decades-long feud between President Donald Trump and his chief investigator, Senator Adam Schiff, has escalated into a criminal showdown. In a series of blistering late-night Truth Social posts, the President declared that Schiff is in "BIG TROUBLE" and should "pay the price of prison" for allegedly orchestrating a "sustained pattern" of mortgage fraud discovered by Fannie Mae’s Financial Crimes Division.
The investigation centers on a high-stakes residency "scam" that allowed Schiff to double-dip on financial benefits in two different states.
The Maryland-California "Double-Dip"
According to federal referrals and property records, Schiff is accused of falsifying bank documents to designate his home in Potomac, Maryland, as his "primary residence" between 2013 and 2019.
The Financial Gain: By claiming the Maryland home was his main residence, Schiff allegedly secured significantly lower mortgage interest rates, as lenders view primary homes as lower risk than secondary properties.
The Constitutional Conflict: As a U.S. Senator representing California, Schiff’s legal primary residence must be in the Golden State.
The Tax Theft: While claiming Maryland as his primary home for the bank, Schiff simultaneously claimed a property in Burbank, California, as his primary residence to secure a homeowner’s tax exemption, reportedly saving him roughly $7,000.
"A Sustained Pattern"
While Schiff’s spokesman told the Los Angeles Times that the Senator followed legal advice and was merely "moving between two houses," a report from Fannie Mae acquired by the outlet tells a different story. The report noted a "sustained pattern of possible occupancy misrepresentation" regarding which property the Schiffs identified as their primary residence on loan records.
Financial crimes experts warn that mortgage fraud cases involving clear-cut financial records are notoriously difficult to defend. "If the answers to residency questions are undisputed, there is nothing to have a trial about," noted Florida defense attorney Keith Gross. Most of these DOJ-prosecuted cases result in plea deals involving heavy fines, restitution, and potential prison time.
The "Scam Artist" Narrative
President Trump, who has frequently targeted Schiff since the 2016 Russia investigation and the 2019 impeachment, took to social media to hammer the "scam artist" narrative. Trump alleged that Schiff only re-designated the Maryland home as a second home in 2020 as part of a "ruse" once the scheme became a liability.
"I have always suspected Shifty Adam Schiff was a scam artist," Trump wrote. "Mortgage Fraud is very serious, and CROOKED Adam Schiff needs to be brought to justice." As the DOJ reviews the referral, the possibility of a sitting U.S. Senator facing a felony indictment has the Democratic Party in a defensive crouch heading into the spring.
House Passes Bipartisan Housing Bill Targeting Corporate Homebuyers
The House delivered a massive bipartisan victory Wednesday, passing a housing bill designed to expand homeownership, lower costs, and limit institutional investors from snapping up single-family homes.
The amended 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed by a commanding 396-13 vote, sending the legislation to the Senate and giving Republicans a potential cost-of-living win heading into the midterm elections.
House leaders framed the bill as a direct response to the housing affordability crisis squeezing millions of Americans.
Speaker Mike Johnson argued the stakes could not be clearer.
“Increased housing costs and lack of quality supply are two issues that impact nearly every American family,” Johnson said.
He called the legislation a “strong bipartisan package that will put more American families into homes.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise made a similar argument.
“This is something that every American in this country is going to be happy to see, to have lower housing costs,” Scalise said.
At the center of the legislation is a provision aimed at institutional investors.
The House version preserves a ban on large corporate investors buying newly built single-family homes, a priority backed by the Trump administration.
House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill said the bill directly aligns with President Donald Trump’s housing agenda.
“This bill prioritizes American families by expanding homeownership, enhancing affordability, reducing burdensome regulations that drive up costs, and increasing housing supply nationwide,” Hill said.
“Importantly, it delivers on President Trump’s call to limit institutional investors from competing with the American people as they seek to purchase a home.”
A White House official confirmed support.
“The White House supports the House’s housing bill thanks to the changes that were made,” the official said.
The House, however, rejected a tougher Senate-backed provision that would have forced large institutional landlords already holding single-family rental homes to sell them off within seven years.
That proposal had support from progressives, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, but House lawmakers opted for a narrower approach that targets future purchases without forcing divestitures that could disrupt renters.
Polling suggests the political move may be popular.
A recent survey found seven in ten voters support banning major investors owning more than 350 homes from buying additional residential properties.
Despite the overwhelming margin, conservative opposition did emerge.
The 13 Republican “no” votes came largely from Freedom Caucus-aligned members objecting not to the housing provisions, but to language dealing with central bank digital currencies.
Rep. Warren Davidson explained his opposition in stark terms.
“A temporary ban is the worst of both worlds: political cover today, a clear runway tomorrow,” Davidson wrote.
“Make it permanent, or take it out.”
The provision temporarily blocks a government-backed digital currency through 2030, but some conservatives fear that simply delays rather than prevents future implementation.
Now the bill moves to the Senate, where its path becomes more uncertain.
Because the House amended the Senate’s earlier version instead of passing it unchanged, lawmakers in the upper chamber must now decide whether to accept the changes, negotiate further or stall the package entirely.
The biggest flashpoint could be the removal of the forced-sale requirement for institutional landlords.
The bill also faces the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, always a major obstacle.
Still, the lopsided House vote gives the legislation strong momentum.
For Republicans, the politics are straightforward.
Housing affordability remains a top concern for voters dealing with high mortgage rates, tight inventory and growing competition from deep-pocketed corporate buyers, Fox News reported.
For Democrats, opposing a bill aimed at limiting investor competition in the housing market could also carry political risk.
Whether the Senate quickly advances the legislation or lets it bog down in procedural fights could determine whether Congress delivers a tangible housing win before voters head to the polls.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
