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The Guardian World1 min read
California Governor Newsom says US Department of Justice investigating him
TL;DR
California Governor Gavin Newsom revealed that he is under investigation by the US Department of Justice, claiming it is politically motivated due to his potential 2028 presidential run. He stated that the investigation also involves his wife and that no crime has been found.
Key points
- Gavin Newsom is under investigation by the US Department of Justice
- He claims the investigation is politically motivated
- The investigation also involves his wife
- No crime has been found according to Newsom
- Newsom is considering a presidential run in 2028
Mentioned in this story
Gavin NewsomDonald TrumpUS Department of Justice
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and top critic of United States President Donald Trump, has said he is being investigated by the US Department of Justice.
In a video post on X on Monday, Newsom said the investigation was politically motivated and that he was being targeted because he is considering a US presidential run in 2028. Newsom said the Department of Justice was also investigating his wife.
The department has not confirmed any investigation into Newsom.
“Today, my wife & I joined Donald Trump’s hit list,” Newsom said in the post. “He isn’t coming after me because of mean tweets, but because I am considering running for President.”
Newsom added that investigators had not found a crime and that the couple had “nothing to hide”.
The governor said that federal agents had been seeking to interview his friends and former employees, “not because they found a crime, because they’re trying to find one”.
He said investigators were also focusing on his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who runs a non-profit that promotes women’s equality.
Newsom further called Trump “the most corrupt president in American history”. He accused the Department of Justice, which is currently headed by Trump loyalist Todd Blanche, of “abusing the grand jury process” in trying to build a case against him.
Vows of retribution
Trump has repeatedly vowed to prosecute his political opponents.
Since he took office in 2025, the Department of Justice has indicted or sought to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James and Former FBI Director James Comey, who both investigated the president.
The Department of Justice has also investigated US Senator Adam Schiff, who led impeachment proceedings against Trump during his first term, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a top critic who ran as the Democratic vice presidential candidate in 2024.
Trump has regularly railed against Newsom on social media, often referring to him as “Newscum”.
The US president in June of last year said Newsom should be arrested amid a standoff over immigration enforcement protests in California.
Newsom, who is term-limited as governor and leaves office in January 2027, has adopted a similarly caustic approach online.
Most recently, he posted a montage of Trump apparently sleeping during public events on Sunday, the president’s 80th birthday.
Q&A
What is the reason for the US Department of Justice investigation into Gavin Newsom?
Gavin Newsom claims the investigation is politically motivated as he considers a run for the presidency in 2028.
Has the US Department of Justice confirmed the investigation into Newsom?
No, the US Department of Justice has not confirmed any investigation into Gavin Newsom.
What did Gavin Newsom say about the investigation involving his wife?
Newsom stated that the investigation also involves his wife and emphasized that they have nothing to hide.
