Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., condemned Republicans on Tuesday for confirming Emil Bove, a former defense attorney for President Donald Trump, to a federal appeals court — even as Schiff himself faces a Department of Justice referral for potential criminal prosecution in connection with alleged mortgage fraud.
Bove was confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in a narrow 50–49 Senate vote after a contentious process that included allegations from three whistleblowers. They accused Bove of urging colleagues to ignore court orders related to Trump’s deportation policies and of misleading senators during his confirmation hearing.
“Republicans just voted to confirm Emil Bove. Despite whistleblowers confirming he urged them to ignore court orders,” Schiff wrote in a post on X. “Despite it being clear he lied to the Judiciary Committee. And despite the danger he poses to the rule of law. The corruption of the bench continues.”
No Democrats supported the nomination. Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine also voted against Bove’s confirmation.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, defended Bove on the Senate floor, saying he was the subject of “unfair accusations and abuse.”
Bove previously represented Trump during criminal proceedings and later served in the Trump administration as principal associate deputy attorney general.
At the same time, Schiff is facing legal scrutiny of his own. He was referred to the DOJ following allegations tied to mortgage documentation involving homes he owns in both California and Maryland.
In a letter sent in May to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, FHFA Director William Pulte claimed Schiff had “falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms,” affecting payments from 2003 to 2019 for a property in Potomac, Maryland. The letter was obtained by Fox News Digital.
It remains unclear whether the DOJ has launched a formal investigation. A spokesperson for the department declined to comment, and Schiff’s office has not yet responded to a request from Fox News Digital.
President Trump, who has long criticized Schiff, weighed in again in July.
“I have always suspected Shifty Adam Schiff was a scam artist,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on July 15. “And now I learn that Fannie Mae’s Financial Crimes Division have concluded that Adam Schiff has engaged in a sustained pattern of possible Mortgage Fraud.”
Schiff responded by characterizing Trump’s remarks as politically motivated and lacking merit.
“Since I led his first impeachment, Trump has repeatedly called for me to be arrested for treason,” Schiff wrote in a July 15 post on X. “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. Not by a long shot.”
