Newsom Claims DOJ Investigation is Politically Motivated Amid Speculation of Presidential Run

California Governor Gavin Newsom accused the US Department of Justice of investigating associates due to his political rivalry with President Trump, amid ongoing investigations involving his family and former staff.

California Governor Gavin Newsom made allegations on Monday that the US Department of Justice is conducting investigations into individuals connected to him as a result of his political opposition to President Donald Trump.

In a video statement, Newsom expressed concern, stating, "In recent days, federal agents have knocked on the door of family, friends, and former employees. Not because they found crime, because they're simply trying to find one."

The Democratic governor acknowledged the speculation surrounding his potential candidacy for the 2028 presidential election, asserting that Trump is targeting him due to his aspirations to run for president.

A source familiar with the investigations confirmed that there are "several investigations ongoing" that have been in progress for approximately a year, but denied any involvement from Trump himself.

These investigations reportedly originated in California, utilizing whistleblowers and government sources, according to the source, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive ongoing matters.

Federal prosecutors based in Sacramento are managing these investigations, one of which reportedly pertains to the tax records of Newsom's wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, while another is related to a former chief of staff of Newsom's, although the specific individual was not named. Newsom did not specify which aides might be under investigation.

Dana Williamson, Newsom's former chief of staff and a veteran political strategist in California, pleaded guilty to federal charges in May concerning a campaign finance fraud scheme that did not implicate Newsom directly.

In his video remarks, Newsom accused federal investigators of "demanding records" and "abusing the grand jury process," characterizing the investigations as politically motivated.

Over the past two years, Newsom has sought to elevate his national profile by positioning himself as a counter to Trump. His press team has been known to mock Trump's distinctive social media posting style, and Newsom recently succeeded in initiating a bid to redraw California's congressional districts in response to Trump's encouragement of Republican-led states to alter their electoral maps ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

Political analysts have speculated that Newsom may leverage his heightened visibility to launch a presidential campaign in 2028.

Newsom described the ongoing investigation as a politically motivated attack linked to his potential presidential ambitions, accusing Trump of corruption. He claimed that the investigation into his wife was aimed at undermining him personally.

"One by one anyone who has challenged Donald Trump has ended up on his hit list, and today, I proudly joined that list," Newsom stated, adding, "Donald Trump picked the wrong target. We have nothing to hide."

The Department of Justice has opened various prosecutions or investigations against notable critics of Trump and political opponents in recent years. For instance, federal prosecutors have pursued charges against former FBI Director James Comey on two occasions; the first case was dismissed due to the improper appointment of the prosecutor, while the second case remains active. Comey has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Additionally, the Justice Department attempted to prosecute New York Attorney General Letitia James, who has taken Trump and his businesses to court over allegations of fraud, although these efforts were unsuccessful.

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell was subjected to a Justice Department inquiry regarding alleged financial mismanagement related to building renovations, which arose due to tensions between him and Trump over interest rates. Ultimately, the inquiry was dropped to avoid complications with the Senate confirmation of Trump's nominee to replace Powell.

Neither the White House nor the Justice Department has provided any comments regarding Newsom's allegations.

Williamson, Newsom's former chief of staff, pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, filing a false tax return, and making false statements.

Federal prosecutors accused Williamson of taking part in a fraudulent scheme to misappropriate campaign funds from an account belonging to another politician, Xavier Becerra, for personal gain. Neither Newsom nor Becerra, who is currently running for governor of California, were implicated in this case.

Williamson was also accused of leveraging her position as Newsom's chief of staff to press state attorneys into settling a sexual harassment lawsuit against a gaming company that was previously a client of hers, as reported by the Sacramento Bee.

In response to inquiries from the BBC, Newsom's office released a fact sheet asserting that Williamson's actions were "entirely unrelated to him."

Cai Pigliucci contributed to this report.