Trump DOJ Investigating Gavin Newsom and Wife, California Governor Alleges
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Monday that the U.S. Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, has opened an investigation into him and his wife, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. In a video statement posted to X, Newsom accused President Donald Trump of directing the probe as political retaliation for his opposition to the president and his potential 2028 presidential candidacy.
“In recent days, federal agents have knocked on the doors of family, friends and former employees,” Newsom said. “Not because they found a crime. Because they are simply trying to find one.”
Background of the Investigation
According to a source familiar with the matter, the investigations have been ongoing for approximately one year and originated in California from whistleblower complaints, not from Washington, D.C. The probes are being run through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento, as USA Today reported.
One investigation specifically involves Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s taxes and payments to her film production company, Girls Club Entertainment. Another probe relates to Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, and potentially current staff members.
The Dana Williamson Connection
Williamson, Newsom’s former chief of staff, pleaded guilty in federal court on May 14 to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, filing a false tax return, and lying to the FBI. According to the BBC, federal prosecutors alleged she participated in a scheme to steal $225,000 from a dormant campaign account belonging to former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. Williamson’s lawyer stated that federal prosecutors asked her for information on Newsom, but she had none to provide. Newsom has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
Escalation of the Newsom-Trump Feud
The investigation marks a significant escalation in the long-running conflict between Newsom and Trump. California has sued the Trump administration more than 60 times during the president’s second term, and Trump previously called for Newsom’s arrest over immigration enforcement disputes. As The Guardian noted, Newsom has positioned himself as a leading foil to Trump through lawsuits, provocative social media posts, and a voter-approved redistricting campaign.
Newsom compared the probe to DOJ investigations of other prominent Trump critics, including former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. “One by one, anyone who has challenged Donald Trump has ended up on his hit list,” Newsom said. “Today, I proudly join that list.”
Legal Experts Weigh In
Legal observers have expressed concern about the unusual nature of the investigation. Laurie Levenson, a criminal law professor at Loyola Law School, told KQED that “this is very cryptic” and noted that “we are seeing things happening in the grand jury which we have not seen in prior departments of justice.”
Shanlon Wu, a former federal prosecutor, told Newsweek that the DOJ appears to “focus exclusively on targeting who Trump perceives as political enemies,” calling it “a tragic moment” that a Stalin-era quote now seems apt: “Show me the man, I’ll show you the crime.”
Political Implications and 2028 Context
Newsom is widely viewed as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028. A TIPP poll released Monday showed Newsom at 14% support among Democratic voters, behind former Vice President Kamala Harris at 31%. A Focal Data poll showed similar results, with Harris at 36% and Newsom at 16%.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom condemned the investigation in a statement, saying: “This is not presidential behavior, and the Governor and I will continue to speak truth to power because the American people deserve so much more.”
What’s Next
Newsom’s office has sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche requesting all documents and records related to the investigation, with a response deadline of July 6. The Department of Justice and the White House have declined to comment on the matter.
The outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for California politics, the 2028 presidential race, and the broader debate about the politicization of the Justice Department. As Newsom stated in his video: “Donald Trump picked the wrong target. We have nothing to hide.”