Newsom says Justice Department is investigating him and his wife
The California governor says the inquiry is politically driven as he weighs a 2028 run; the Justice Department has not confirmed it.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
California Governor Gavin Newsom said Monday that the US Department of Justice is investigating him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom. The allegation raises the stakes in a long-running clash between the Democratic governor and President Donald Trump as Newsom considers a presidential campaign in 2028.
Newsom made the claim in a video posted on X, according to Al Jazeera. He said the investigation was politically motivated and argued that federal authorities were targeting him because of his possible White House bid.
The Department of Justice has not confirmed any investigation into Newsom, Al Jazeera reported. Newsom said investigators had not identified a crime and said he and his wife had nothing to hide.
According to Newsom, federal agents have tried to speak with his friends and former employees. He said the contacts were part of an effort to build a case rather than respond to evidence of wrongdoing.
Newsom also said investigators were looking at Siebel Newsom, who runs a nonprofit focused on women’s equality. He accused the Justice Department of misusing the grand jury process and described Trump as corrupt.
A broader fight with Trump
Newsom, a prominent Trump critic, has often used social media to attack the president. Al Jazeera reported that Trump has also repeatedly targeted Newsom online, including by using an insulting nickname for the governor.
The dispute intensified last year during a confrontation over immigration enforcement protests in California. Trump said in June 2025 that Newsom should be arrested, according to Al Jazeera.
Newsom’s latest comments came one day after he posted a video montage that appeared to show Trump sleeping during public events. The post was published on Trump’s 80th birthday and mocked the president’s age, Al Jazeera reported.
Justice Department scrutiny of Trump critics
Trump has repeatedly promised to prosecute political opponents, according to Al Jazeera. Since returning to office in 2025, the Justice Department has indicted or sought indictments against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey, both of whom investigated Trump.
Al Jazeera also reported that the department has investigated US Senator Adam Schiff and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Schiff led impeachment proceedings against Trump during his first term, while Walz was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2024 and has been a sharp Trump critic.
Newsom is term-limited as California governor and is set to leave office in January 2027. His public consideration of a 2028 presidential campaign has placed him among the Democrats most closely watched ahead of the next election cycle.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.