Gov. Gavin Newsom says DOJ probe targets family in Trump feud

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating members of his inner circle. In a video posted to social media, he said federal agents had knocked on the doors of his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, over alleged tax issues related to her nonprofit, and on his former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, who pleaded guilty in May to bank‑fraud and wire‑fraud charges. Newsom claimed the investigations are politically motivated, arguing they are retaliation for his criticism of former President Donald Trump and his consideration of a 2028 presidential run.

Sources said the probes originated with California law‑enforcement agencies and have been ongoing for about a year, not directly ordered by the White House. Newsom has written to the DOJ under the Freedom of Information Act, using official state letterhead, to request any evidence of political bias, prompting criticism that he is employing state resources for personal legal defense. The governor’s net worth is estimated at $30 million, with a state salary of roughly $242,000. The DOJ and the White House have not commented on the allegations.