U.S. Department of Justice investigates Newsom’s associates

By Liam Hibbert
The Center Square

The U.S. Department of Justice has been investigating people close to California Gov. Gavin Newsom over the past year for reasons that have not been fully disclosed, according to information obtained by The Center Square.

Newsom alleged that President Donald Trump had weaponized the DOJ to investigate him in an effort to thwart a potential 2028 presidential campaign.

For this story, The Center Square contacted the U.S. Department of Justice and the White House, which referred all questions to the DOJ. The Center Square went on to find multiple investigations into people close to Newsom.

A source familiar with the inquiries told The Center Square that the DOJ had several ongoing investigations related to Newsom. The source, who declined to give a name for publication, added that the investigations had started in 2025 and have been underway for roughly a year. The Center Square decided to use the anonymous source’s information because Newsom already said an investigation was happening and because there was no other way to independently confirm it.

“They’re being run through [the] U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of California, and they were triggered by local sources and whistleblowers in California,” the source said of the investigations.

“Not by the President, not by the main justice in D.C.,” the source said, answering The Center Square’s questions by email.

The source added that one of the investigations is related to the nonprofit “tax activities” of Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Newsom’s wife. Another investigation is related to a former chief of staff for the governor and potentially some current staffers.

Siebel Newsom’s feminism-focused nonprofit work has previously been the subject of scrutiny by opponents, who have alleged Newsom has illegally used his office to support the work.

A report by the Sacramento Bee found the governor had solicited $4.8 million in donations since 2020 for the California Partners Project, of which Siebel Newsom is an unpaid co-founder. Reportedly $1.8 million came from a Native American tribe that runs a Sonoma County casino, which has lobbied for legislation in the past. California officials are required by law to disclose donations made to organizations at their request.

On Tuesday, Newsom posted on the social media site X a Freedom of Information Act request for any documents mentioning his name or Siebel Newsom since Jan. 20, 2025 – Trump’s Inauguration Day – within the DOJ. The request is in the form of a letter that David Sapp, Newsom’s legal affairs secretary, wrote to the Office of the Attorney General’s FOIA Request Center in Washington, D.C.

“Trump’s DOJ is on a fishing expedition for a crime that doesn’t exist,” Newsom posted, noting his office was demanding all communication, including emails, texts, memos and Signal messages that refer to him or his wife.

Newsom initially discussed being investigated during a video posted to his X social media account Monday afternoon.

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

Newsom noted how Trump had called for his arrest last year.

“You can subpoena my records, you can investigate me, you can harass me, put my name on every and any enemies list you have,” said Newsom. “But leave my wife and family out of your personal vendetta.”