Senator Adam Schiff, a close ally of Governor Gavin Newsom, raised doubts about the legitimacy of the Department of Justice’s investigation into the California governor and his wife. The probe focuses on tax filings and nonprofit funding connected to Jennifer Siebel Newsom, expanding from a related case involving Newsom’s former chief of staff, who pleaded guilty to charges without implicating the governor himself.
Schiff acknowledged that investigations can hold merit but underscored what he described as a pattern of abuse by the DOJ during the Trump administration. He pointed to examples such as the prosecution of James Comey over minor offenses, calling such cases "terrible abuse" and predicting they would be dismissed. Schiff stressed that these past actions cast doubt on the impartiality of current investigations targeting political opponents.
Newsom has accused former President Donald Trump of directing the DOJ to pursue the investigation as a form of political retaliation amid speculation about Trump’s 2028 presidential ambitions. Schiff, who has been a target of political attacks since leading impeachment efforts against Trump, suggested that the burden of proof now falls on the DOJ to demonstrate the investigation’s legitimacy rather than on those being scrutinized.
According to Schiff, his understanding is that the governor was not involved in any wrongdoing as per statements from Newsom’s former chief of staff, reinforcing his skepticism regarding the investigation’s motives and substance. The ongoing probe continues to attract political attention as the lines between legal scrutiny and partisan conflict remain blurred.