Newsom says Trump DOJ investigating him in latest political probe

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said Monday that President Donald Trump directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom. The alleged probe marks the department’s latest high-profile investigation against one of the president’s political foes.

“Donald Trump isn’t coming after me just because of my mean tweets. He’s coming after me because I’m considering running for president. Because he hates that I’ve called him out over and over again for his lies and deceit,” Newsom said in a video statement.

Newsom said federal agents in recent days have tried to question his friends, family members and former employees as part of the investigation, which he said was initiated “not because they found a crime, but because they’re simply trying to find one.”

“They’re demanding records. They’re abusing the grand jury process, digging through years and years of random documents,” he said.

Newsom, whose term ends in January 2027, is barred by term limits from running for reelection. He’s said he’s considering a run for president in 2028. While laying the groundwork for that potential national campaign, Newsom has become one of the most prominent critics of Trump.

Over the years, Trump has repeatedly called for the governor to be investigated and prosecuted. Last summer, the president said members of his administration should arrest Newsom, claiming that his “primary crime was running for governor.”

The DOJ is currently led in an acting capacity by Todd Blanche, one of Trump’s former personal attorneys. In one of his first public statements as acting attorney general, Blanche said he believes the president has a “right” to order the department to target specific people.

“Donald Trump is, simply, the most corrupt president in American history,” Newsom said in his video statement. “He’s turning the levers of government into his own personal power ministries to reward cronies and try to jail his opponents.”

Newsom also had a message for Trump: “You can subpoena my records. You can investigate me. You can harass me — put my name on every and any enemies list you have. But leave my wife and family out of your personal vendetta.”

Newsom said that he was proud to join the ranks of other Trump opponents who have been targeted by the DOJ, including former FBI Director James Comey, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. 

“One by one, anyone who has challenged Donald Trump has ended up on his hit list. And today, I proudly join that list.”

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