California Governor Gavin Newsom, seen as one of the leading possible Democratic contenders for the 2028 U.S. presidential race, said Monday night that he and his wife are under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. A source familiar with the matter told CNN that the inquiry centers on his wife and people close to her, on suspicion of tax violations.
Newsom posted on X that he and his wife had joined “Trump’s list of targets,” adding, “He ordered his Department of Justice to investigate us.” He said agents had “knocked on the doors of former family members and former employees, not because they found a crime, but to try to find one.” According to Newsom, investigators demanded documents and “random materials.”
He insisted that his wife “did nothing wrong” and warned, “If they can’t intimidate me, they’ll go after our children. Donald Trump picked the wrong target. We have nothing to hide.” People close to the governor said more than 10 people were summoned or questioned by FBI agents and the Internal Revenue Service.
The White House and the Justice Department did not respond to the allegations. A source familiar with the case said political leadership was not involved in opening the investigation. The disclosure comes against the backdrop of the long-running political rivalry between Trump and Newsom, who is regarded as a major Democratic force heading toward 2028.
