California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that the Justice Department is investigating him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, accusing President Donald Trump of using federal law enforcement to target a political rival as the California Democrat continues to emerge as a potential contender for the White House in 2028.
In a video posted on X, Newsom claimed federal agents have contacted former employees, family friends and organizations connected to him and his wife, seeking records and conducting interviews. He argued that investigators were searching for wrongdoing rather than pursuing evidence of a specific crime.
"Today, my wife & I joined Donald Trump's hit list. He has directed his Department of Justice to investigate us," Newsom wrote on X.
The governor said investigators have demanded records and documents from people in his orbit. He also accused the administration of targeting his family after years of political clashes between California and the White House.
"If they can't intimidate me, they'll go after the mother of our children. Donald Trump picked the wrong target. We have nothing to hide," Newsom said.
The Justice Department declined to comment. The White House referred inquiries to the department.
While Newsom portrayed the matter as a direct investigation into him and his family, sources familiar with the case offered a different description. According to CNN, there is no known federal investigation directly targeting Newsom himself. Instead, prosecutors in the Eastern District of California are reportedly examining people connected to the governor, including Jennifer Siebel Newsom, over possible tax-related matters.
A source familiar with the investigation told CNN that the inquiry originated from whistleblower complaints last year and was not launched by the Justice Department's political leadership.
The reported investigation also overlaps with a separate federal case involving Dana Williamson, Newsom's former chief of staff. Williamson was indicted in 2025 on charges tied to an alleged scheme involving campaign funds connected to former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. She pleaded guilty last month to three charges.
Newsom's office said federal investigators previously sought information from Williamson about the governor. According to the governor's office, she had nothing to provide that implicated Newsom.
The dispute comes as Newsom and Trump remain locked in one of the country's most visible political rivalries. The two have repeatedly clashed over immigration enforcement, the deployment of the National Guard, wildfire policy and congressional redistricting.
Newsom has become one of Trump's most outspoken Democratic critics and is widely viewed as a potential presidential candidate in 2028. The governor suggested the timing of the investigation was no coincidence.
"You can subpoena my records, you can investigate me, you can harass me, put my name on every and any enemies list you have, but leave my wife and family out of your personal vendetta," Newsom said.
In the same video, Newsom intensified his criticism of the president, calling Trump "a man with no character" and accusing him of abusing the powers of his office.
"To Donald Trump, this country does not belong to you. It does not belong to your cronies. And we're going to fight your lawlessness. And we're going to continue to remind the people of this country of your corruption," Newsom said.
Neither federal prosecutors nor the Justice Department have publicly disclosed the scope of the reported investigation or whether any charges are being considered.
