Newsom says Trump directed DOJ to investigate him and his wife; a source disputes the characterization

In a video statement posted Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Trump's Justice Department has launched a politically motivated investigation targeting him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom. "After calling for my arrest last year, Donald Trump directed his Department of Justice to investigate me," Newsom said. He added that the probe has extended to his wife "to get me," describing the effort as retaliation for his public criticism of the president and his consideration of a 2028 presidential run.

Newsom's office provided reporters with a fact sheet asserting that federal investigators spent months trying to indict him and, upon failing, widened their search for criminal activity. The fact sheet also states that federal agents have subpoenaed records and conducted interviews covering years of activity, according to Fox News, which cited the governor's office.

A person familiar with the matter told the Associated Press that no investigation specifically targeting Newsom exists, but acknowledged multiple federal probes into people around him — including one related to his wife's taxes. That probe began last year, the person said, and political leadership in Washington was not involved in the decision to open it. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss ongoing investigations. Fox News separately reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the investigation has been ongoing since 2025, is based on whistleblower complaints related to personal finances, and involves grand jury subpoenas. The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Sacramento, Fox News reported.