Grand juries in Virginia and Maryland are digging into serious accusations against New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Senator Adam Schiff for allegedly fudging property records to snag better loan deals.
According to the New York Post, Department of Justice sources reveal that these separate investigations are eyeing potential charges of mortgage fraud, bank fraud, and wire fraud, with penalties that could land both politicians behind bars for up to 30 years if convicted.
Let’s rewind to the start of this saga, where whispers of impropriety first surfaced months ago as the DOJ and FBI began scrutinizing the real estate dealings of these prominent figures.
For James, the probe kicked off in April when Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte sent a criminal referral to the Justice Department, spotlighting questionable claims about her residency.
She’s accused of listing a Norfolk, Virginia, home as her primary residence while serving as New York AG, and even claiming her father as her husband on mortgage applications to secure sweeter loan terms.
Not stopping there, James allegedly marked a block of Brooklyn units as a second home to tap into government-backed aid—moves that have prosecutors raising eyebrows about integrity in public office.
Over in Maryland, Senator Schiff isn’t catching any breaks either, with allegations of double-dipping on residency claims between a Maryland property and a California condo from 2003 to 2019. Investigators say he certified both as primary residences to enjoy lower interest rates and tax perks, a classic case of wanting to have his cake and eat it too, if the charges stick.
Both James and Schiff have denied any misconduct, but subpoenas are out, and witnesses are already testifying before grand juries in their respective states, signaling this isn’t just idle chatter.
Fast forward to Thursday, when Attorney General Pam Bondi named Ed Martin, a former acting U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., as Special Attorney to spearhead the prosecution of both cases.
Martin didn’t mince words, stating, “Attorney General Bondi and President Trump have given me a very serious mission,” adding a layer of gravitas to an already high-stakes investigation.
While Martin insists, “I am committed to going where the facts take me,” one can’t help but wonder if this is a genuine pursuit of justice or a political chess move in a polarized landscape.
Schiff’s defender, former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, fired back, calling the allegations “transparently false” and slamming Martin as “brazenly partisan” for taking on this role.
Bharara’s claim that this is “the very definition of weaponization of the justice process” might resonate with those wary of government overreach, but let’s be real—public officials must be held to account if the evidence stacks up.
With Martin quipping, “As Tish James and Adam Schiff always say: ‘Nobody is above the law,’” it’s a sharp reminder that the rhetoric of accountability cuts both ways, and this case could redefine how we view political responsibility in an era tired of progressive double standards.
