Newsom Alleges DOJ Is Investigating People in His Orbit

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has alleged that the US Department of Justice is investigating people in his orbit due to his political opposition to President Donald Trump, Kayla Epstein reported for BBC News.

California Governor Gavin Newsom alleges federal investigators are scrutinizing people close to him due to his political opposition to President Donald Trump. (Photo: Governor Gavin Newsom X)

“In recent days, federal agents have knocked on the doors of family, friends, and former employees,” Newsom said in a video on Monday. “Not because they found crime, but because they’re simply trying to find one.”

Newsom, a Democrat, acknowledged speculation that he may seek the White House in 2028, alleging Trump was “coming after me because I’m considering running for president.”

Newsom went public with the claims as reporters said the probe had been underway for about a year in Fresno’s federal court district. The allegations place a sitting governor and a prominent Trump critic at the center of a new federal investigation dispute.

A source confirmed to the BBC that there were “several investigations ongoing” for “roughly a year” but denied Trump’s involvement.

Federal prosecutors in Sacramento were reportedly handling the investigations, one of which allegedly involved Newsom’s wife’s taxes and another concerning Newsom’s former chief of staff.

Newsom alleged federal investigators were “demanding records” and “abusing the grand jury process.”

The governor has raised his national profile by positioning himself as a political foil to Trump.

Newsom’s team has mocked Trump’s caps lock-heavy posting style on social media, and the governor also launched a successful bid to redraw California’s congressional districts, Cai Pigliucci also reported for BBC.