California Governor Gavin Newsom went on the offensive Monday. He publicly disclosed that the Department of Justice is investigating him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and laid the blame on President Donald Trump.
In a video statement posted to X, Newsom alleged that federal agents have been knocking on the doors of family friends and former employees, demanding records and subpoenaing documents. Newsom characterized this as a politically motivated probe designed to neutralize a potential 2028 presidential rival.
In the video, Newsom accused the President of turning the Department of Justice into what he called a “personal power ministry.” Federal agents, he said, have knocked on the doors of family friends and former employees – not because they have discovered some sort of crime, but because they are “simply trying to find one.”
He complained that investigators have been demanding documents, and “abusing the grand jury process, digging through years and years of random documents.”
Newsom also explained why he feels he is a target: “Donald Trump isn’t just coming after me because of my mean tweets. He’s coming after me because I’m considering running for president.”
Finally, he delivered a remark that is now being amplified around the internet: “Donald Trump picked the wrong target.”
Regardless of politics, there are solid angles in this investigation. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, is being investigated by a federal prosecutor’s office based in Sacramento on potential tax fraud and evasion, with the probe dating back to early 2025.
The Eastern District of California’s U.S. Attorney’s Office is reportedly investigating whistleblower claims of crimes related to taxes tied to Siebel’s California Partners Project. It’s a nonprofit focused on gender equity that has accepted around $5.1 million in behested payments since 2020.
Separately, another pending investigation is focused on Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, who was indicted on almost 2 dozen federal charges but later pleaded guilty to three counts, including conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud and filing a false tax return. Becerra has not been charged in any of the probes.
Internet Reacts to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s DOJ Investigation
The Gavin Newsom DOJ investigation out of California sparked debate online.
“The entire justice system is being run like Trump’s personal defense shield and Gestapo, and they are not even pretending about it,” one user wrote. Another backed Newsom’s framing of the probe as retaliatory, posting: “Trump is weaponizing the DOJ to create a hit list against anyone who dares call him out or might run against him. If you run against Trump or the party, voters aren’t going to fall for the usual partisan noise — they’re going to look at the PERSON.”
Skeptics, however, were equally vocal. “These investigations began under Biden. Your statements are emptier than your fire hydrants during a wildfire,” one commenter fired back. Another went further: “Who passes laws to stop investigating fraud, has billions of dollars unaccounted for, money suspiciously ends up in your wife’s NGO’s? If you’ve done nothing wrong, then step aside.”
A third user was more blunt: “You are the governor of a corrupt, decaying state. This administration is just doing their job — sniffing out the bad guys.” And one commenter didn’t spare the governor on accountability: “You’re guilty already of turning a blind eye to fraud. That makes you an accessory to crimes.”
The California Governor is considered a heavyweight in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary lineup with Former Vice President Kamala Harris. He is also picking up serious traction on social media for his criticism of Trump. What the revelation means, coming now and mentioning presidential considerations, makes this more than one governor’s legal trouble story.
