California Governor Gavin Newsom, considered a potential future presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, recently claimed that he is being investigated by the Donald Trump administration for political reasons.
According to U.S. media outlets including The New York Times (NYT) and Bloomberg, Governor Newsom stated in a video on June 15 (local time) that he and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, are being targeted by the Department of Justice.
Governor Newsom criticized the move, stating, "President Trump is attacking me not just because of the mean posts I’ve written (about him), but because I am considering running for president," and added, "The Department of Justice is abusing the grand jury process and digging through years of documents."
He then emphasized to President Trump, "You can put me on your enemy list, but leave my wife and family out of your personal vendetta."
However, Governor Newsom did not mention specific details regarding the investigation in the video.
According to sources, Dana Williamson, who served as Governor Newsom’s chief of staff, committed corruption crimes and recently pleaded guilty. The Department of Justice is investigating whether the governor was aware of or involved in these activities.
The governor and his wife are also under investigation for alleged tax evasion.
According to the state government, the Department of Justice is scrutinizing the professional and personal life of Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker, and has reached out to associates of the non-profit organization she operates.
Siebel Newsom emphasized, "It is clear that President Trump will do anything to those who challenge his path," adding, "This is unbecoming of a president, and my husband and I will continue to speak the truth to power."
In addition, it is reported that the Department of Justice is re-examining the controversy surrounding Governor Newsom’s alleged interference in a sexual discrimination lawsuit involving the game developer Activision Blizzard.
Governor Newsom is considered one of the leading potential Democratic candidates for the presidential election scheduled for 2028.
He has frequently engaged in war of words with President Trump on social media and has clashed sharply with him over issues such as immigration and the wealth tax.
Reported by JIN Sang-myeong | Video by RYU Ji-soo | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
"Trump Took Everything!" Behind-the-Scenes Claims of Secret Moves Spark Controversy: "Is He Selling the Presidency?" (Trump NOW)
By 진상명 PD | Jun 16, 2026
