Adam Schiff Sets Up Legal Defense Fund Amid DOJ Probe Into Finances

Democratic California Sen. Adam Schiff has created a new legal defense fund amid a Department of Justice (DOJ) probe into his finances over alleged mortgage fraud.

Schiff, a longtime adversary of President Donald Trump, could be staring down a protracted legal fight as the Justice Department scrutinizes his real estate dealings on two properties in Maryland and California while he was serving in the House of Representatives. The California Democrat set up the “Senator Schiff Legal Defense Fund” on Thursday, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed Ed Martin as a special prosecutor on Aug. 8 to investigate the mortgage fraud allegations. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte referred the Schiff to the DOJ in May for allegedly misrepresenting a Maryland home as his primary residence to secure more favorable loan terms. The California Democrat also claimed a condo in Burbank, California, as his primary residence during the same time, CNN first reported.

Schiff attorney Preet Bharara has referred to the mortgage fraud allegations as “transparently false, stale, and long debunked.” Bharara is a frequent Trump critic who was