Newsom Accuses Trump Justice Department of Politically Motivated Probe
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- California Governor Gavin Newsom accused the Justice Department of launching a politically motivated investigation into him and his wife.
- Newsom alleges the probe is retaliation for his criticism of President Donald Trump and his consideration of a presidential bid.
- The Justice Department declined to comment, while a source familiar with the matter denied a specific investigation targeting Newsom but acknowledged probes into people around him.
California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly accused the U.S. Justice Department on Monday of initiating a politically motivated investigation targeting him and his wife. Newsom, a prominent Democratic rival of President Donald Trump, stated in a video posted on X that federal agents have been questioning his associates and seeking records, suggesting the probe is an attempt to undermine his potential presidential aspirations.
Newsom asserted that Trump is retaliating against him not for his social media commentary, but because Newsom has consistently challenged the president's statements and is considering a run for the presidency. "Donald Trump isnโt just coming after me because of my mean tweets," Newsom declared, referencing his frequent online criticisms of Trump. "Heโs coming after me because Iโm considering running for president, because he hates that Iโve consistently called him out over and over again for his lies and deceit."
Donald Trump isnโt just coming after me because of my mean tweets. Heโs coming after me because Iโm considering running for president, because he hates that Iโve consistently called him out over and over again for his lies and deceit.
While Newsom did not provide specific details about the nature of the inquiry, his office indicated that the investigation has recently expanded into "increasingly personal matters involving the Governorโs family and professional network." The Justice Department itself declined to comment on the governor's allegations. However, a source close to the matter, speaking anonymously, denied the existence of an investigation specifically targeting Newsom. This source did confirm, though, that multiple federal probes are underway concerning individuals associated with the governor, including one related to his wife's taxes.
These investigations reportedly began last year following whistleblower complaints within the California government. The anonymous source stated that political leadership in Washington was not involved in the decision to initiate these probes. Newsom framed himself as the latest target in what he described as Trump's "hit list" of political opponents, joining figures like former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. This pattern has drawn criticism that the Trump administration is weaponizing law enforcement agencies for political purposes.
One by one, anyone who has challenged Donald Trump has ended up on his hit list, and today I proudly join that list.
Originally published by Times of Israel in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.