California Sen. Adam Schiff (D) and New York Attorney General Letitia James received a favorable development Thursday when the Department of Justice launched an investigation into its earlier probes of the anti-Trump Democrats.
President Donald Trump previously ordered the DOJ to investigate Schiff and James over mortgage fraud allegations. Both Democrats deny any wrongdoing.
In Schiff’s case, a witness named Christine Bish told federal investigators in Greenbelt, Maryland, about her communications with others. The subpoena instructed her to reveal her contacts with officials, including Federal Housing Finance Director Bill Pulte and DOJ official Ed Martin, as well as anyone claiming to act on their behalf.
“They’re investigating each other,” she told CNN. “It’s stupid.”
Pulte notably played a key role in launching the investigation into Schiff.
The Housing Finance Director is not a fan of the California Democrat and pointed out that he would not tolerate any mortgage fraud in the U.S.
“I’m not gonna be intimidated by the media, who is now coming up with these hit pieces, or these politicians like Adam Schiff and his lawyers who are trying to attack me,” he told Fox News in August. “In President Trump’s America, we’re NOT gonna have mortgage fraud!”
Pulte issued criminal referrals to the DOJ, a move usually handled by mortgage investigators at the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Prosecutors are also reviewing whether grand jury materials in James’ case were improperly shared with unauthorized individuals. Like Schiff, James denies wrongdoing.
As Bish told CNN, she had traveled to Maryland with the idea that she would be asked for testimony on Schiff, but instead she was asked whether there was a plot between her, Pulte and Martin.
“If they’re trying to tie me into some kind of clandestine conspiracy, it’s not there, and the best way to protect myself is to be open and honest and public,” Bish said. “Something’s not adding up. And I haven’t gotten to the bottom of it yet, but I will.”
“They assured me, when they interviewed me, that the focus of the investigation was Adam Schiff. And I kept pulling the testimony back to Schiff, but it seemed like they were looking for more — stuff that doesn’t exist,” she added.
Since taking office, Trump has targeted some of his top political enemies, including Schiff and James.
Trump shared a private message he sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi in September, in which he called on his top DOJ official to ramp up investigations into his political enemies.
“Pam, I have reviewed over 30 statements and posts. Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam ‘Shifty’ Schiff, Leticia, they’re all guilty as hell… In 1970, Nixon commented on an ongoing investigation, which was Charles Manson, who I think we could agree was probably a little more evil than James Comey,” Trump said.
