Newsom says federal inquiries target his family as 2028 bid looms
California Gov. Gavin Newsom accused the Justice Department of pursuing a political inquiry as a person familiar with the matter said probes involve people around him.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
3 min read
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that the Justice Department is pursuing a politically driven inquiry involving him and his wife, escalating his fight with President Donald Trump as Newsom weighs a 2028 White House run. The allegation matters because it adds another high-profile dispute to claims from Trump critics that federal law enforcement is being used against the president’s opponents.
Newsom, a Democrat and frequent Trump critic, said in a video posted on X that federal agents had contacted friends and former employees and sought records. He did not describe the specific conduct under review.
Newsom’s office said the inquiry appears to have widened recently into personal issues tied to the governor’s family and professional contacts. The office said investigators had issued subpoenas and reached out to organizations and individuals connected to Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
Newsom tied the scrutiny to his criticism of Trump and to his possible presidential ambitions. In the video, he said Trump was targeting him because he is considering a presidential campaign and because he has repeatedly criticized the president.
A person familiar with the matter disputed that there is a federal investigation aimed directly at Newsom. The person said there are several federal probes involving people close to the governor, including one connected to Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s taxes.
The person said the probes began last year after complaints from within California government. The person also said political leaders in Washington did not take part in the decision to open the investigations, and spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss active matters publicly.
The Justice Department declined to comment Monday. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also declined to answer questions about Newsom during a brief photo opportunity on Capitol Hill with Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Blanche was scheduled to meet with Grassley about his nomination to become attorney general, according to the Associated Press. The full scope of any Justice Department activity connected to Newsom was not immediately clear.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom said in a statement that the inquiry showed Trump was unfit for office. Newsom’s office accused the Justice Department of looking for a crime that does not exist.
The dispute follows other Justice Department actions involving figures Trump has treated as political adversaries. The Associated Press reported that the department has opened investigations into or brought prosecutions against former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, former CIA Director John Brennan and former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, among others.
Trump has also clashed repeatedly with California during his second term, according to the Associated Press. His administration has moved to curb the state’s vehicle emissions plans, withheld wildfire recovery aid and sued over state policies supporting transgender student-athletes.
California has responded by suing the federal government dozens of times, according to the Associated Press. Newsom also backed a successful California redistricting measure intended to help Democrats gain five additional U.S. House seats after a Trump-supported redistricting push in Texas designed to benefit Republicans.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.