Trump Administration Faces Mortgage Fraud Investigations, Allegations of Selective Enforcement

The Trump administration has come under scrutiny for selectively targeting Democratic officials with investigations into alleged mortgage fraud, while ignoring similar allegations against Republican Cabinet members. Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Authority and a Trump appointee, has spearheaded these inquiries, accusing prominent Democrats such as Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, Senator Adam Schiff, and New York Attorney General Letitia James of claiming multiple primary residences on mortgage documents. Despite these allegations, experts note that criminal prosecution for such mortgage misstatements is rare and typically accompanies broader criminal schemes, leading critics to view the probes as politically motivated. Trump fired Cook, citing Pulte's accusations as evidence of her alleged misconduct, intensifying the administration's campaign against perceived political foes. Meanwhile, a liberal watchdog has filed a complaint urging the Justice Department to investigate Republican officials, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who reportedly have similar mortgage issues yet remain uninvestigated. Democratic leaders and commentators have condemned the administration's approach as hypocritical and a weaponization of government power to target opponents.