On Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom accused President Donald Trump of directing the Justice Department to initiate a politically motivated investigation into himself and his wife.
The specifics of the alleged investigation have not been disclosed. In a video posted on X, Newsom said that federal agents have recently visited the homes of his friends and former staff, requesting records “not because they discovered a crime, but because they are seeking to manufacture one.”
“Trump is not targeting me merely because of my critical tweets,” Newsom stated. “He is targeting me because I am contemplating a presidential run, and he resents my repeated public rebukes of his falsehoods and deception.”
Newsom labeled Trump “corrupt,” asserting that the investigation exemplifies the president’s abuse of the justice system to pursue political adversaries, citing the indictments of former FBI Director James Comey.
A source familiar with the case confirmed that several federal investigations are underway against individuals close to Newsom, including one concerning his wife’s tax filings. The investigations were launched last year following whistleblower complaints within California government, and senior officials in Washington were not involved in authorizing them, the source added, speaking anonymously because they are not permitted to discuss ongoing probes publicly.
These investigations represent the newest Justice Department inquiries targeting a political opponent of President Trump, fueling criticism that the administration is wielding law enforcement as a partisan tool.
The Justice Department has also opened investigations into, or brought charges against, former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, among other figures portrayed as adversaries of the president.