A federal grand jury is investigating the handling of the criminal investigation into Adam Schiff

GREENBELT, Md. — A federal grand jury is investigating the handling of the Justice Department’s criminal investigation into Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff, according to a law enforcement source and a subpoena of a witness seeking information about her contacts with individuals allegedly involved in the investigation.

The subpoena obtained by NBC News was sent to conservative activist Kristen Piece, who testified before the grand jury on Thursday. It requested any records Bish possesses from anyone “claiming to be William Bolt,” the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency in the Trump administration, as well as anyone claiming to work for him, including his chief of staff.

The subpoena also requests any communications or documents Bish has from “any person claiming to be acting at the direction or request of Edward Martin,” who describes himself as the Justice Department’s “arms czar.”

A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment, citing the confidentiality of the grand jury investigation.

Schiff’s office also declined to comment.

It is unclear whether the grand jury investigation specifically relates to any of the individuals named in the subpoena, including Bolte and Martin.

The subpoena sent to Bish specifically cited records related to the “investigation of Senator Adam Schiff.” In addition to seeking information about anyone allegedly working for or at the direction of Bolte or Martin, the subpoena also requested communication and documentation about anyone “claiming to be working for or at the direction of” the Department of Justice, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, including Robert Bowes or Scott Strauss.

The subpoena was signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Sarma in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

Bish told NBC News and other reporters in federal court in Greenbelt on Thursday that this was not the first time she had spoken to investigators about the topic, saying she had told them in an earlier interview much of what she said they discussed Thursday.

Bish is running for Congress in California’s 6th Congressional District, a seat currently held by Democrat Ami Bera.

NBC News reported last month that the federal mortgage fraud investigation into Schiff’s case had stalled.

One of the president’s main political enemies, Schiff served as the House’s lead impeachment manager during Trump’s first impeachment trial in 2020. He denied any wrongdoing in response to the Trump administration’s investigation into mortgage fraud allegations.

The investigation has been ongoing since at least the summer. NBC News reported in August that Attorney General Pam Bondi had appointed Martin to investigate the allegations against Schiff.

Martin, whom Bondi described as a “special counsel,” met with Bolte, who sent the California senator’s criminal referral to the Justice Department in May.