Legal AF by MeidasTouch — Episode Summary

Episode Title: Trump Screwed as Prosecutor He Needs Refuses to Indict
Date: October 24, 2025
Hosts: MeidasTouch Network (primarily Michael Popok this episode)
Theme: An in-depth analysis of Donald Trump’s failed bid to have his appointed U.S. Attorney indict Senator Adam Schiff for alleged mortgage fraud, exploring prosecutorial ethics, political weaponization of justice, and fallout inside Trump’s team.

Episode Overview

This episode explores a major setback in Donald Trump’s crusade against perceived political enemies: his handpicked U.S. Attorney for Maryland, Kelly O. Hayes, has refused to indict Senator Adam Schiff on flimsy mortgage fraud allegations. The hosts take a hard look at the legal merits (or lack thereof) behind the supposed case, the political infighting it spurred, and the broader abuse of the DOJ under Trump's direction.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Kelly O. Hayes Refuses to Indict Adam Schiff

• Trump appointed Kelly O. Hayes expecting her to target his rivals.

• Hayes, after reviewing a leaked memo about Schiff’s mortgages, refused to proceed, stating there was no actual fraud.

  “She took one look at the memo... and she said there’s no fraud here... That memo alone kills the case. And Kelly O. Hayes knows all about it. So do I.”
  — Michael Popok [01:37]

• The leaked memo (published by the LA Times) contained no evidence of mortgage fraud—neither lender nor bank was defrauded, which is essential for prosecuting fraud.

2. The Leaked Memo vs. Trump’s Narrative

• The actual memo found “a sustained pattern of possible occupancy misrepresentation” but nothing about criminal mortgage fraud.

• Trump and social media surrogates altered the memo’s language to suggest clear criminal conduct, which is misleading.

  “That’s not what the memo said... The line is this conclusion: Fannie Mae Financial Crimes Investigation concluded that Adam Schiff engaged in a sustained pattern of possible occupancy misrepresentation... That’s not what Trump said.”
  — Michael Popok [07:51]

• Popok explains that “occupancy misrepresentation” alone, with paid-off loans and no lender deception, is nowhere near prosecutable mortgage fraud.

3. Political Weaponization and DOJ Infighting

• The push to indict Schiff was spearheaded by Trump loyalists like Ed Martin (head of DOJ’s so-called "Weaponization Committee") and right-wing operative Bill Pulte, who orchestrated requests for documents and tried to manufacture a case.

• Kelly O. Hayes reportedly faced pressure and possible removal for refusing to play along, as reported by MSNBC and local Maryland media.

  “You’re going to have to fire Kelly O. Hayes if you’re going to install some other insta prosecutor like Lindsey Allegan in order to do it.”
  — Michael Popok [02:24]

• Internal DOJ power struggles: Pam Bondi and Todd Blanche (Trump’s main DOJ fixer) vs. Ed Martin and lesser-known loyalists jockeying to find anyone willing to prosecute.

4. Reflections on Prosecutorial Ethics and Duty

• Hayes is praised as a “career prosecutor who has ethics” and as someone who followed both the “principles of federal prosecution” and the DOJ manual, refusing to pursue obviously politically-motivated, baseless charges.

  “I cannot do it under my bar license. So shout out to Kelly O. Hayes for doing the right thing.”
  — Michael Popok [14:19]

5. Trump’s Reaction and Ongoing Spin

• Trump, publicly and via Truth Social, continued to insist an indictment was imminent—even bragging to supporters.

• Popok highlights the dangerous misrepresentation and the ongoing “checking all the wrong boxes” mentality in Trump’s circle.

  “Nobody told Donald Trump that the case against Adam Schiff stinks and that no career prosecutor is going to bring it.”
  — Michael Popok [01:45]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the memo’s lack of evidence:
  “How do you have mortgage fraud without a lender being a bank being defrauded? ...They all know he’s a senator from California. The Maryland bank could not have been defrauded, and there’s no reference to it here.”
  — Michael Popok [06:45]

• On Trump’s edited narrative:
  “Listen to these words: I’ve always suspected shifty Adam Schiff was a scam artist, and now I learned that Fannie Mae’s Financial Crimes Division have concluded... That’s not what that says.”
  — Michael Popok [08:10]

• On DOJ infighting:
  “We got a battle going on between Pam Bondi, Todd Blanche on one side, Ed Martin and Lindsey Halligan on the other. Who’s caught in the middle of this feud? Kelly. Oh, Shift Hayes.”
  — Michael Popok [13:02]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:23–02:44| Trump’s appointment of Kelly O. Hayes and her refusing the case | | 03:37–07:00| Analysis of the leaked memo vs. Trump’s public narrative | | 07:00–09:21| Deep dive into what constitutes mortgage fraud & why Schiff isn’t liable | | 10:34–12:45| Reporting on the DOJ infighting and politics overriding prosecution| | 13:00–14:19| Final praise for Hayes, implications for Trump, and recap |

Episode Tone and Language

• Tone is sharp, direct, and at times sarcastically critical of Trump’s antics and the DOJ loyalists enabling him.
• Language is legalistic but accessible—great pains taken to break down technical details for a general audience.
• The hosts freely use nicknames (e.g., “Shifty Schiff,” “Oh, Shift Hayes”), in step with their style and audience expectations.

Conclusion

This Legal AF episode offers a critical and meticulous look at the failed attempt to weaponize the Justice Department against Senator Adam Schiff. The hosts dismantle the supposed “case,” exposing political manipulation, congratulating the rare display of real prosecutorial ethics, and warning about internal DOJ chaos. It’s must-listen content for anyone tracking the overlap of law, politics, and accountability in the Trump era.