DOJ examining handling of Schiff mortgage investigation

A federal grand jury is examining the handling of the mortgage fraud investigation into Sen. Adam Schiff of California according to a subpoena to a witness in the case.

The subpoena was sent to Republican activist Christine Bish, who appeared before the grand jury in Maryland Nov. 20. It asked her for any communications and documents involving Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Bill Pulte, Department of Justice official Ed Martin or anyone claiming to work for either, according to Reuters.

The subpoena also requested records on anyone claiming to work at the direction of the Justice Department, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, including Robert Bowes, who worked for Trump during his first term and allegedly works for Pulte now, and Scott Strauss, a private citizen who is believed to be working with Martin, according to ABC News.

Prosecutors are looking into whether Pulte and Martin deployed Bowes and Strauss to assist with the investigation of Schiff, and thus were sharing secret grand jury materials, a violation of federal law, Reuters reported.

Bish said Nov. 20 was not her first time speaking with investigators about the case, but that the prosecutors "seemed more concerned" about her communications with Pulte and Martin, she told CNN.

Bish, a realtor, is running for Congress in California's 6th Congressional District, a seat held by Democrat Ami Bera.

President Donald Trump first accused Schiff of mortgage fraud in July, writing, "Mortgage fraud is very serious, and CROOKED Adam Schiff (now a Senator) needs to be brought to justice," in a Truth Social post.

The scheme allegedly involved a property in Maryland Schiff has owned since at least 2009, which he designated as a second home in 2020.

Then in August, Attorney General Pam Bondi tapped Martin, who has helped investigate mortgage fraud by public officials, to inspect the allegations against Schiff, NBC News reported.

The investigation stalled last month and was dismissed by a judge Monday. 

Pulte has pushed for multiple mortgage fraud investigations into several Democrats and critics of Trump. Schiff served as the lead impeachment manager in the House during Trump's first impeachment trial five years ago.

Pulte also asked the Justice Department to look into Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook and New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose case was also dismissed Monday.

Pulte accused Cook this summer of lying on mortgage applications, which was followed by Trump firing her. The White House then appealed a federal district court ruling that allowed Cook to remain at her post pending the result of her lawsuit against the president. The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments early next year.