Senator Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California, has established a legal defense fund amid an intensifying Department of Justice investigation into alleged mortgage fraud. The probe involves grand juries considering possible indictments against Schiff. The legal defense fund was formed in response to these inquiries, which Schiff attributes to political retaliation by the Trump administration. Schiff has publicly denied the mortgage fraud allegations, calling them false and accusing the Justice Department of weaponizing the investigation to target critics of President Trump. Additionally, Schiff has characterized the FBI raid on former national security adviser John Bolton's home and office as an act of retribution aimed at intimidating opponents of the president. Schiff contends that the administration is systematically targeting anyone who opposes or criticizes President Trump, using federal investigations as a tool for political intimidation.