U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) speaks during a rally in support of a "Yes" vote on Proposition 50, a congressional redistricting measure in the November 4 special election, at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, U.S., November 1, 2025. REUTERS/David Swanson

By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Federal prosecutors in Maryland are scrutinizing the conduct of two allies of U.S. President Donald Trump in their investigation of Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, according to a document reviewed by Reuters and two sources briefed on the matter.

The department has asked a witness in the Schiff case for any communications and documents involving William Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or any people acting at his behest, as well as anyone claiming to be working for the Justice Department and DOJ official Ed Martin, according to a subpoena reviewed by Reuters.

Martin, the department's pardon attorney, was previously tapped by Attorney General Pam Bondi to serve as a special assistant U.S. attorney to help investigate mortgage fraud by public officials.

Pulte has made several mortgage fraud referrals to the Justice Department this year. In addition to Schiff, he also asked the Justice Department to investigate New York Attorney General Letitia James and Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook. James has since been charged with bank fraud, and has pleaded not guilty.

The scrutiny by federal prosecutors of Pulte and Martin's involvement in the Schiff referral and subsequent investigation was first reported by MS Now.

Pulte and the FHFA did not respond immediately to Reuters' requests for comment. Martin and a spokesperson for Martin did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. A Schiff spokesman declined to comment.

The subpoena, sent to Christine Bish, asked her to provide all documentation and communications referenced in an October 2025 interview with federal agents regarding the Schiff investigation, specifically focusing on any individuals or communications coming from Pulte and Martin, or people claiming to be working for them.

The subpoena asked her to appear on Thursday before a grand jury in Greenbelt, Maryland. Two sources briefed on the matter confirmed to Reuters that a witness in the investigation did appear.

Bish could not be reached immediately for comment. She told CNN on Thursday that she went before the grand jury expecting to be asked about the investigation into Schiff, but said that prosecutors "seemed more concerned" about her communications with Pulte and Ed Martin.

FHFA director Pulte has emerged as a top Trump ally by targeting perceived foes of the president with claims of mortgage fraud. But his recent actions and the ouster of the agency's watchdog have brought criticism and detractors, on Capitol Hill and at the White House.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch in Washington, additional reporting by Andrew Goudsward and Maiya Keidan, Writing by Chris Prentice; editing by Scott Malone and Daniel Wallis)