California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that the Department of Justice is investigating him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and accused President Donald Trump of directing the probe to target a potential 2028 Democratic presidential challenger.
“Hit List” Allegation on Social Media
In a post on X, Newsom wrote: “Today, my wife & I joined Donald Trump’s hit list. He has directed his Department of Justice to investigate us. They have not found a crime; they are simply trying to find one.”
He added that the inquiry stems from his criticism of Trump and his consideration of a White House bid, saying, “He isn’t coming after me because of mean tweets, but because I am considering running for President.”
Scope of Investigation
Federal agents have questioned friends and associates of the couple, according to Newsom’s account and supporting reporting.
However, the full scope of the investigation remains unclear, and it is not known whether it involves one case or multiple lines of inquiry.
A source familiar with the matter told the Washington Examiner that multiple investigations have originated in California, including in the Eastern District of California.
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These probes were not directed by DOJ headquarters in Washington and instead stem from whistleblowers and internal state-level sources who contacted federal prosecutors.
One line of inquiry reportedly involves tax-related questions connected to Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
Jennifer Newsom’s Nonprofit, Business Scrutiny
Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker, founded the Representation Project, a nonprofit focused on gender equity. She also owns Girls Club Entertainment, a production company.
Tax filings show the nonprofit paid Girls Club Entertainment $161,250 for film production services in 2024, a figure that has previously drawn public scrutiny.
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Newsom’s office rejected the investigations as politically motivated and said the couple has done nothing wrong.
The governor’s team also pointed to a prior federal corruption probe involving his former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, which did not implicate Newsom.
Federal Agencies Decline Comment
The Eastern District of California did not respond to requests for comment. The White House referred questions to the Justice Department, which declined to comment.
The announcement comes as Trump DOJ officials intensify reviews of California’s governance, including ballot processes and federal funding compliance.
Newsom framed the investigation as part of a broader pattern of political targeting, saying, “One by one, anyone who has challenged Donald Trump has ended up on his hit list. And today, I proudly join that list.”
