Governor Gavin Newsom accused the Justice Department of carrying out a politically motivated investigation into himself and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, reportedly at the direction of former President Donald Trump. Newsom asserted that Trump personally pushed for the probe after previously calling for his arrest and is now extending scrutiny to his family in an effort to undermine him.
According to Newsom, federal agents recently approached friends and former associates seeking documents and information, signaling an aggressive investigation despite no evidence of wrongdoing. He described the process as a broad and invasive search through years of records, characterizing it as an abuse of the grand jury system aimed at uncovering any potential accusations rather than responding to confirmed misconduct.
The specific focus of the inquiry, the details of the questioning to those involved, and the nature of the documents seized have not been publicly disclosed. Newsom connected the investigation to his prospects of a 2028 presidential run and his vocal criticism of Trump’s behavior while in office. He denounced the former president for turning government agencies into tools to target political opponents and reward allies.
Newsom highlighted parallels with previous Justice Department probes against other prominent figures who opposed Trump, including Senator Adam Schiff, New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI Director James Comey, former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and former Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. He positioned himself as the latest official on what he called a growing list of targets.
The Justice Department did not comment on the investigation, and the White House directed inquiries back to the DOJ. Newsom’s allegations add to mounting concerns about the politicization of federal law enforcement and the use of investigative powers as political weapons during and after the Trump administration.