California Governor Newsom Says Trump Ordered Political Investigation Into Him and His Wife

California Governor Gavin Newsom said Monday night that he and his wife are under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department, and accused President Donald Trump of using the government to pursue political revenge. Newsom, one of Trump’s most prominent political rivals and a leading possible Democratic presidential contender in 2028, said on X, "My wife and I just joined the list of Trump’s targets. He ordered his Justice Department to investigate us."

According to a source familiar with the matter cited by CNN, the investigation centers on Newsom’s wife and people close to the governor, on suspicion of tax violations. Newsom said investigators demanded documents and "random materials," and claimed agents knocked on doors of former family members and former employees not because they had found a crime, but to try to find one. He also said the probe targeted his wife, who "did nothing wrong."

In comments to reporters, Newsom’s aides said more than 10 people had been subpoenaed or contacted by FBI and IRS agents as part of the case. They said some of the questions suggested investigators had obtained access to private financial records. The White House and the Justice Department did not comment, while a source told CNN that the political leadership at the Justice Department was not involved in opening the investigation.

Newsom portrayed the case as part of a wider pattern of retaliation against Trump’s foes. He said, "If they can’t intimidate me, they’ll go after our children. Donald Trump picked the wrong target. We have nothing to hide." Newsom has clashed with Trump repeatedly over the past year, and as governor of California, the largest and wealthiest state in the U.S., he has emerged as one of Trump’s sharpest adversaries.