California Governor Gavin Newsom has publicly accused former President Donald Trump of placing him and his wife on a political “hit list” and orchestrating federal investigations aimed at uncovering a crime for indictment purposes, despite no evidence so far. Newsom linked the actions to his potential 2028 presidential bid and described recent activity by federal agents as a “fishing expedition.”
Federal investigators have reportedly questioned Newsom’s family friends and former staff, focusing on personal and financial matters, including reviewing long-term documents. Although neither Newsom nor his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, have been subpoenaed yet, his office expects subpoenas to be served, particularly concerning financial records tied to their business ventures. These probes stem from whistleblower complaints and revolve around two main areas: tax matters related to Jennifer Siebel Newsom and a separate investigation connected to Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, who recently pleaded guilty in a corruption case that does not implicate the governor.
Newsom’s office characterized the investigations as unfounded and possibly retaliatory, launched after federal prosecutors reached a dead end with the Williamson case. The governor claimed the probe extended into “deeply personal matters” and criticized the grand jury process as being abused to sift through years of irrelevant documents. California’s Democratic governor positioned himself as one among several prominent figures allegedly targeted by Trump, citing others such as former FBI Director James Comey and Senator Adam Schiff, to underscore what he describes as politically motivated legal scrutiny.
Newsom entered office with ownership of a hospitality company, PlumpJack, now in a blind trust, while Siebel Newsom is known for her nonprofit work and documentary filmmaking. The couple’s financial activities, including fundraising through “behested payments” — solicited charitable contributions — during recent years have come under federal review as part of the broader investigations.