Overview
- Gov. Gavin Newsom publicly said in a video that he and his wife are under Justice Department scrutiny and that President Trump ordered the probe, a claim he made on Monday, June 15.
- Newsom’s office says federal agents recently knocked on doors of family members, friends and former employees, served subpoenas and sought years of records from people in the governor’s circle.
- Multiple news outlets report there are at least two related federal inquiries tied to people around Newsom, including an investigation reported to involve Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s taxes and a separate probe connected to former chief of staff Dana Williamson.
- The Justice Department and the White House have declined to comment, and reporting conflicts on origins and targets of the inquiries with some sources saying the probes began in 2025 out of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento after whistleblower complaints.
- The dispute raises practical questions for investigators and voters because grand jury subpoenas and witness interviews are routine steps that do not by themselves mean charges, and the fight could deepen legal and political battles ahead of 2028.