U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Friday that a special prosecutor will oversee politically sensitive mortgage fraud investigations involving New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Sen. Adam Schiff (D).
Bondi told Fox News that the appointment is necessary to avoid any appearance of political bias that could affect jury or judge decisions in the cases.
The allegations focus on accusations that James and Schiff misrepresented their residences to secure better mortgage rates.
Ed Martin, who was nominated by former President Donald Trump to serve as Attorney for the District of Columbia but was blocked by North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis (R), will serve as the special prosecutor.
Martin has been leading the Justice Department’s Weaponization Working Group, which investigates claims of political bias in law enforcement actions, per the Conservative Brief.
A grand jury has convened to consider charges against James, who was referred to Bondi by federal mortgage authorities after discrepancies appeared in documents related to several of her property purchases.
Among the issues raised were James allegedly listing her father as her husband on some mortgage paperwork, which may have been intended to gain mortgage advantages reserved for married couples. Additionally, she reportedly undercounted the number of units in a Brooklyn brownstone, potentially to avoid costly safety upgrade requirements.
Senator Schiff faces separate allegations stemming from his claim that a Maryland property he owns was his primary residence.
Documents show that Schiff did not list the Maryland property as a secondary residence until 2021, even though he served in the House of Representatives representing California. Federal law requires members of Congress to live in the state they represent.
Both James and Schiff have denied the allegations, calling the investigations politically motivated.
A spokesperson for James stated that any weaponization of the justice system “should disturb every American.” The spokesperson emphasized James’ commitment to ongoing litigation against Trump and the National Rifle Association and said they will continue to defend New Yorkers’ rights.
James’ personal attorney, Abbe D. Lowell, also criticized the investigations. Lowell called the subpoenas “improper” and described the probes as desperate attempts at political retribution against an elected official performing her duties.
Martin’s role in the investigations has drawn criticism from some lawmakers.
His nomination to be U.S. Attorney was blocked partly due to concerns over his limited prosecutorial experience and his support for individuals involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Schiff’s legal team called the allegations “transparently false, stale, and long debunked.”
Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara described Martin’s involvement as an example of “weaponization of the justice process.”
James previously secured a major legal victory against the Trump Organization, accusing it of inflating asset values to secure loans and insurance. That case resulted in nearly half a billion dollars in fines. Trump is currently appealing that decision.
