California Gov. Gavin Newsom accused President Donald Trump of directing the Justice Department to investigate him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, escalating a long-running political feud between two of the country’s most visible rivals.
In a video statement Monday, Newsom said federal agents had recently contacted family friends and former employees, demanding records and using the grand jury process in what he described as a politically motivated search for a crime.
Newsom claimed the investigation was tied to his criticism of Trump and his possible interest in running for president in 2028.
“Donald Trump isn’t just coming after me because of my mean tweets,” Newsom said. “He’s coming after me because I am considering running for president.”
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The Justice Department and the FBI declined to comment on the matter, according to reports. The White House also did not provide a detailed public response to Newsom’s specific allegations.
A source familiar with the matter told The Guardian that several investigations involving Newsom and people around him have been underway for roughly a year. Those reportedly include a probe related to Siebel Newsom’s taxes and another connected to Dana Williamson, Newsom’s former chief of staff, who recently pleaded guilty to fraud in federal court.
The same source said the investigations originated in California through the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of California, which includes Sacramento, rather than being directed from Washington.
That distinction is important. Newsom is framing the probes as part of a broader Trump effort to target political opponents. But the reported origin of the investigations may become central to whether the governor can support his claim that the president personally directed the Justice Department against him.
Newsom’s statement nevertheless places the dispute inside a larger national debate over whether federal law enforcement is being used for political retaliation.
He pointed to other Trump critics and rivals who have faced investigations or legal pressure, including former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Newsom said he now considered himself part of what he called Trump’s “hitlist.”
The governor was especially forceful in criticizing any scrutiny of his wife.
“You can subpoena my records. You can investigate me. You can harass me,” Newsom said. “Put my name on every and any enemy’s list you have, but leave my wife and family out of your personal vendetta.”
Jennifer Siebel Newsom has become a growing target of conservative criticism as her husband’s national profile has risen. She has advocated for gender equity and equal pay, while Republican critics have attacked the Newsom family over ethics, political ambition and California governance.
The allegation lands at a politically sensitive moment. Newsom is widely viewed as a potential Democratic presidential contender in 2028, even though he has not formally announced a campaign. His frequent clashes with Trump over immigration, climate policy, state authority and federal enforcement have made him one of the president’s most prominent Democratic opponents.
California has sued the Trump administration dozens of times during the president’s second term. The state and federal government have clashed over military deployments, immigration enforcement, environmental policy and funding disputes.
Trump and Newsom also fought publicly last year after federal forces were deployed to Los Angeles during immigration enforcement unrest. Trump called for Newsom’s arrest at the time, accusing him of obstructing federal operations, while Newsom accused the administration of abusing federal power.
The latest accusation could further sharpen Newsom’s role as a national anti-Trump figure. It gives him a new argument that the administration is not merely opposing him politically, but using the machinery of federal law enforcement against him and his family.
But the lack of public comment from DOJ and FBI leaves key questions unanswered. It is not clear what records investigators are seeking, whether Newsom or his wife are formal targets, what statutes may be involved or whether the probes are connected to Williamson’s case.
It is also not clear whether federal agents’ recent contacts represent a new escalation or routine investigative steps in probes that reportedly began months earlier.
That uncertainty makes careful wording essential. Newsom has made a serious allegation. Federal officials have not confirmed it. A source says the probes began in California, not Washington. The political fight is clear, but the legal picture remains incomplete.
For now, Newsom is using the moment to frame himself as a target of what he calls a weaponized Justice Department. Trump’s critics are likely to point to the case as further evidence of political retribution. Trump’s allies may argue that Newsom is trying to turn legitimate law enforcement scrutiny into campaign-style drama before 2028.
The fight is likely to continue unless the Justice Department provides more clarity or court filings reveal the scope of the investigations.
Why It Matters
Newsom’s accusation matters because it touches one of the most sensitive questions in American politics: whether the Justice Department is operating independently or being used to pressure political opponents.
It also matters because Newsom is a potential 2028 presidential contender. Any federal investigation involving him, his wife or his former staff could become a major issue in the Democratic primary and in Trump’s broader fight with California.
What Comes Next
Newsom is likely to continue pressing the claim that the investigations are politically motivated. Reporters and lawmakers may seek more information from the Justice Department, the FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office in the Eastern District of California.
The next major development may come through court filings, subpoenas, public statements from investigators or further details connected to Dana Williamson’s fraud case.
Newsom claimed Trump directed the Justice Department to investigate him and his wife, while federal officials have not publicly confirmed the allegation and reports say several probes originated in California.
🚨 NOW: There are SEVERAL INVESTIGATIONS from the DOJ surrounding Gavin Newsom, including his WIFE
No wonder Gavin is panicking publicly! 🤣
The house of cards is starting to crash down before his 2028 campaign!
Expose this SNAKE. pic.twitter.com/HeQlIKDZkc
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 15, 2026
