Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) said Monday that he and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, are under investigation by the Justice Department.
The outgoing governor, who is widely expected to launch a 2028 presidential campaign, suggested that the inquiry is politically motivated.
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“Today, my wife & I joined Donald Trump’s hit list,” Newsom wrote on X. “He has directed his Department of Justice to investigate us. They have not found a crime — they are simply trying to find one. He isn’t coming after me because of mean tweets, but because I am considering running for President.”
He added, “He hates that I consistently call him out. He is simply the most corrupt President in American history. We have nothing to hide. Mr. President, come after me. I am not going anywhere.”
Federal agents have reportedly questioned friends and associates of Newsom and his wife, though the full scope of any investigation remains unclear. It is also unclear whether there is a single investigation or multiple parallel inquiries.
A source familiar with the matter told the Washington Examiner there are multiple investigations originating out of California, including the Eastern District of California. The investigations have not been directed by Department of Justice headquarters and are understood to have originated from whistleblowers and sources within California’s state government communicating with local federal prosecutors.
The source said one matter under investigation in the Eastern District involves tax-related issues connected to Newsom’s wife. The Washington Examiner reached out to the Eastern District for comment.
Siebel Newsom, who uses the title of California’s first partner, is a documentary filmmaker known for projects examining gender stereotypes and inequality. She founded the Representation Project, a nonprofit focused on advancing gender equity through education and advocacy. Siebel Newsom also owns Girls Club Entertainment, a film production company that has performed work for the nonprofit.
The arrangement has drawn scrutiny from critics after the Representation Project reported paying Girls Club Entertainment $161,250 for film production services in 2024.
Newsom’s office dismissed the investigation into the couple as the latest attempt to tarnish the governor politically. His office also noted that a federal corruption probe involving his former chief of staff did not implicate him in any wrongdoing.
Dana Williamson, Newsom’s former chief of staff, pleaded guilty last month to three felony counts in a wide-ranging corruption case that has also posed challenges for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra. She is central to a major political and financial scandal and was indicted on 23 federal counts and ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, subscribing to false tax returns, and lying to federal agents.
One of the felony charges Williamson admitted to involved lying to the FBI about information she obtained while working in Newsom’s office. In her plea agreement, she acknowledged sharing confidential details about a state lawsuit with a former business associate whose client was connected to the case, then misleading investigators when they questioned her about it.
The client is not identified in court documents, but the facts outlined in the case appear to correspond to California’s 2021 lawsuit against video game company Activision Blizzard. Before joining the Newsom administration, Williamson’s consulting firm had worked for the company.
The lawsuit drew additional attention in 2022 when Newsom removed the attorney leading the case, prompting criticism from some who argued the administration was interfering in the litigation.
After Williamson was indicted last year, her attorney said federal investigators first contacted her during the Biden administration while she was still serving in Newsom’s office. According to her lawyer, agents asked whether she would assist in an investigation involving the governor. Williamson responded that she had no information to offer and had never witnessed Newsom engage in criminal conduct.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Eastern District for comment.
The White House referred matters to the Department of Justice when asked for comment. The DOJ declined to comment.
The investigation in California follows other high-profile inquiries and indictments brought against Democrats who have made themselves persona non grata in Trump world. The DOJ previously sought to indict former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James last year in two separate cases, both of which were dismissed after a judge found that a temporary U.S. attorney for Virginia appointed by Trump was improperly installed in her position.
The former FBI director is still under a separate indictment slated for trial later this year related to his “86 47” post on Instagram, which a grand jury in North Carolina found rose to the level of a threat against the president earlier this year.
“One by one, anyone who has challenged Donald Trump has ended up on his hit list,” Newsom said. “And today, I proudly join that list.”
