An article summarized by CBS News:
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, are under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. In a video posted to social media, Newsom said federal investigators have contacted family members, friends, former employees, and organizations connected to them, while also seeking records and reviewing years of documents. He accused President Donald Trump of using the Justice Department to target political opponents and suggested the investigation is linked to speculation that he could run for president.
Neither Newsom nor federal officials have publicly disclosed the exact nature of the investigation. However, sources familiar with the matter reportedly said multiple Justice Department probes involving the governor are being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Sacramento, with at least one investigation dating back about a year and stemming from a whistleblower complaint. According to Newsom's advisers, investigators have issued subpoenas, conducted interviews, and expanded their inquiries in recent months. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who leads several nonprofit initiatives focused on gender equality and media representation, has also reportedly become part of the investigation's scope.
The announcement escalates a long-running feud between Newsom and Trump, who have frequently criticized one another in public. Newsom argued that he has joined a list of Trump critics who have faced federal scrutiny, including Letitia James, James Comey, and Jerome Powell. Trump has previously called for Newsom's arrest and often attacks the California governor publicly. While the Justice Department has not commented on the allegations, Newsom said he will cooperate with any investigation but urged Trump to leave his family out of what he described as a political vendetta.
