True face of American lobbyists for Armenia Yesterday Menendez, today Schiff — Who’s next?

So, the well-known senator from California, Adam Schiff, has once again found himself at the center of a major scandal. This time — not related to political battles or loud statements with an anti-Azerbaijani undertone, but due to direct accusations of mortgage fraud made by U.S. President Donald Trump.

In his post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote the following: "I have always suspected Shifty Adam Schiff was a scam artist. 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. Adam Schiff said that his primary residence was in MARYLAND to get a cheaper mortgage and rip off America, when he must LIVE in CALIFORNIA because he was a Congressman from CALIFORNIA."

According to the U.S. president, Adam Schiff’s fraud began "with the refinance of his Maryland property on February 6, 2009, and continued through multiple transactions until the Maryland property was correctly designated as a second home on October 13, 2020. Mortgage Fraud is very serious, and CROOKED Adam Schiff (now a Senator) needs to be brought to justice."

No official response from Schiff has followed yet, but the very fact of such a specific accusation—supported by data from the Financial Crimes Division—strengthens long-standing suspicions about, to put it mildly, the lack of transparency in this politician’s activities.

At this point, it makes sense to remind what Adam Schiff represents. He is a long-time and loyal lobbyist for the interests of Armenia and the now-defunct separatist regime in Karabakh. Throughout his many years in politics, Schiff has consistently promoted hostile initiatives with an anti-Azerbaijani focus and regularly demonstrated his close ties to the Armenian diaspora.

In particular, Schiff has initiated resolutions recognizing the so-called "independence of Artsakh" and calling for pressure on Azerbaijan. Moreover, he has urged the U.S. administration to tighten sanctions and diplomatic policies against Baku, accusing Azerbaijan of "aggression." To a reasonable person, all this sounds like a hellish mix of monstrous lies and cynicism. But as history shows, cynics and liars traditionally act as persecutors of Azerbaijan.

During the Second Karabakh War and subsequent escalations caused by provocative actions from the Armenian side, Schiff took an unequivocally one-sided pro-Armenian stance, completely ignoring international law and UN Security Council resolutions. In doing so, he put his personal and Armenian interests above international law and the national interests of the United States.

Adam Schiff is far from the only American politician closely connected to the Armenian lobby who is also involved in criminal cases. A striking example is Robert (Bob) Menendez, who chaired the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and was one of the most active Armenian allies in Washington. Incidentally, the twilight of his career cannot be called glorious — he was arrested and faced trial on a number of serious charges, including receiving bribes of particularly large amounts (money, gold, luxury cars, and luxury items), abuse of official position in favor of foreign states, financial fraud, concealing sources of income, and so on.

An interesting fact is that Armenian lobbying groups never condemned Menendez’s actions, despite the corruption being at the federal level. On the contrary, the Armenian press continued to portray him as a friend of the Armenian people. Truly, a raven will not peck out another raven’s eye.

As is well known, the Armenian lobby in the U.S. is among the most active and generous, with millions of dollars annually directed to funding campaigns of loyal politicians, promoting resolutions, and shaping narratives in American media. In response, Schiff, Menendez, and their like are ready to openly lie and ignore international norms.

Both Adam Schiff and Bob Menendez have long become symbols of American politicians for whom the interests of the Armenian diaspora come above truth, international law, and genuine diplomacy. They are vivid representatives of that category of lobbyists for hire, for whom the Armenian agenda is not a matter of values but a source of funding and political gain.

Mortgage fraud, corruption schemes, attempts to undermine the international order — all these point to the moral and political bankruptcy of those who call themselves friends of Armenia.

And here a reasonable question arises: “If Armenia’s allies in the Senate and Congress are corrupt and fraudulent, what does this say about the very Armenian influence strategy in Washington?” We believe Azerbaijan should closely monitor the developments in Schiff’s case, as it may open new horizons for exposing the true motives of the Armenian lobby, with the aim of stripping it of legitimacy in the eyes of the American public.