Donald Trump Calls for Senator To Be Jailed: 'Big Trouble'
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President Donald Trump has escalated his attacks on Senator Adam Schiff, calling for the Democrat to go to prison for alleged mortgage fraud.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday night, the president accused Schiff of falsifying loan documents, saying the senator was in "BIG TROUBLE" and should "pay the price of prison."
Newsweek contacted Schiff for comment via contact form on his website on Monday.
Why It Matters
Trump and Schiff have had an adversarial relationship since the former's first presidency, and Schiff has remained a fierce critic of the president. While serving in the House of Representatives, Schiff took a leading role in inquiries into Russian interference in the 2016 election. He also played a key role in the president's first impeachment in 2019.
Trump's call for Schiff to be imprisoned reflects a broader pattern of the president using his power and influence to target his political opponents, particularly those involved in past investigations against him.
A composite image of President Donald Trump, left, departing the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 15 and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California at the U.S. Capitol on December 10, 2024.
A composite image of President Donald Trump, left, departing the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 15 and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California at the U.S. Capitol on December 10, 2024.
Anna Moneymaker/What To Know
Trump ramped up his attacks on Schiff last week, alleging in a Truth Social post on July 15 that the Democrat had engaged in a "sustained pattern of possible Mortgage Fraud," which the president said had been uncovered by the Financial Crimes Division of the Federal National Mortgage Association, also known as Fannie Mae.
The president accused Schiff of improperly declaring a house he owned in Maryland as his primary residence to get a lower mortgage rate.
A spokesperson for Schiff told the Los Angeles Times that the senator followed legal advice and was transparent about living between his two homes, one in his home state of California and the other near where he works in Washington, D.C.
A Fannie Mae memo reviewed by the outlet did not accuse Schiff of mortgage fraud or of any crimes, but it noted "a sustained pattern of possible occupancy misrepresentation" regarding which home he and his wife listed as their primary residence on mortgage documents.
In a post on X, Schiff described Trump's accusations as a "baseless attempt at political retribution."
He added in another post, "And much as Trump may hope, this smear will not distract from his Epstein files problem."
The president has faced mounting criticism over his administration's failure to release records about child sex abuse linked to the late financier and former Trump acquaintance Jeffrey Epstein.
In his Sunday Truth Social post, Trump also said Schiff had falsely accused his son Donald Trump Jr. of criminal activity during the Russia investigation, adding that Schiff should "pay the price of prison for a real crime, not one made up by the corrupt accusers."
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday: "Adam 'Shifty' Schiff is in BIG TROUBLE! He falsified Loan Documents. He once said my son would go to prison on a SCAM that Schiff, along with other Crooked Dems, illegally 'manufactured' in order to stage an actual coup. My son did nothing wrong, knew nothing about the fictional story. It was an American Tragedy! Now Shifty should pay the price of prison for a real crime, not one made up by the corrupt accusers!"
Senator Adam Schiff wrote on X on July 15: "Since I led his first impeachment, Trump has repeatedly called for me to be arrested for treason. So in a way, I guess this is a bit of a letdown. And this baseless attempt at political retribution won't stop me from holding him accountable."
What Happens Next
Schiff has not been formally charged with any wrongdoing, and experts say it seems unlikely that Trump's calls for prosecution will lead to formal legal action.
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