California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that he and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, are under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, an action he claims was personally directed by President Donald Trump.
In a statement released on June 15, 2026, Newsom alleged that the investigation is politically motivated, targeting him because of his outspoken criticism of Trump and his potential candidacy for the presidency in 2028.
During a nearly five-minute video posted on X, Newsom stated, "Today, my wife & I joined Donald Trump’s hit list. He has directed his Department of Justice to investigate us.
They have not found a crime – they are simply trying to find one." The governor accused Trump of weaponizing federal institutions such as the FBI and the Justice Department against his political enemies, citing former FBI Director James Comey, former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and Senator Adam Schiff as previous targets.
According to Newsom's office, federal agents have contacted several individuals associated with the governor and his wife over the past week, subpoenaed records, and conducted interviews covering years of personal and professional activity. The governor's office suggested that the investigation may be focusing on payments made to Siebel Newsom's film production company, Girls Club Entertainment.
Siebel Newsom, known as the First Partner, is a documentary filmmaker and founder of the nonprofit Representation Project, which advocates for gender equity.
Newsom emphasized that he and his wife have "nothing to hide" and warned the president to leave his family out of what he called a "personal vendetta." The White House referred inquiries to the Justice Department, which has not yet commented on the allegations.
The announcement marks the latest escalation in a long-running feud between Newsom and Trump. The governor has previously called Trump "the most corrupt President in American history" and accused him of ineptitude, while Trump has mocked Newsom's dyslexia and referred to him as "Gavin Newscum." Newsom concluded his video by saying, "President, come after me.
I am not going anywhere. The country is watching."