California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday the Trump administration has launched a criminal investigation into him, claiming the government is “trying to find” a crime to charge him with, which would make him the latest of President Donald Trump’s political enemies targeted by his Justice Department after the president vowed “retribution” against his foes.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks in Hayward, California, on March 2.
Anadolu via Getty Images
Newsom said in a public statement Monday that federal agents had taken steps that suggest there’s a criminal investigation against him, such as “knocking on doors” of friends and former employees and requesting records.
It’s unclear what the Justice Department could be investigating, and Newsom argued Monday officials aren’t looking into him “because they found a crime,” but “because they are simply trying to find one” (the DOJ has not yet responded to a request for comment).
Federal officials also appear to be targeting Newsom’s wife, he suggested, saying Monday the president’s “campaign has reached my own home: to get me, he’s coming after my wife, Jen.”
Newsom strongly defended himself against any allegations of wrongdoing, saying he and his wife “have nothing to hide,” and Trump can “come after me. I am not going anywhere.”
The governor characterized himself as the latest in a string of Trump critics who have come under investigation as a result, saying he was “proud” to join those targeted like former Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Trump is “coming after me because I am considering running for President,” Newsom claimed, also arguing the president “hates that I’ve consistently called him out – over and over again – for his lies and deceit.”
It’s still unclear if the Trump administration could bring any charges against Newsom, which would have to be approved by a federal grand jury, and how long any potential investigation into the governor could take.
In recent days, federal agents have knocked on the doors of family friends and former employees.
Not because they found a crime. Because they are simply trying to find one.
They are demanding records.
They are abusing the grand jury process.
Digging through years and years of random documents.
Donald Trump isn’t just coming after me because of my mean Tweets.
He’s coming after me because I am considering running for President.
Because he hates that I’ve consistently called him out – over and over again – for his lies and deceit.
Donald Trump is simply the most corrupt President in American history.
He has turned the levers of government into his own personal power ministries to reward cronies and to try to jail his opponents.
His personal attorney now runs the Department of Justice, which has repeatedly gone after his political enemies.
Ask Jerome Powell.
He sent them after James Comey.
Tish James.
Adam Schiff.
He sent them after Tim Walz.
And a woman that a jury found Donald Trump had sexually abused.
One by one, anyone who has challenged Donald Trump has ended up on his hit list.
And today, I proudly join that list.
After calling for my arrest last year, Donald Trump directed his Department of Justice to investigate me.
And just in the last week, I’ve learned his campaign has reached my own home: to get me, he’s coming after my wife, Jen.
A public servant. A woman who has dedicated her life to supporting women and girls.
Someone who has done nothing wrong, other than having the temerity to advocate for what she believes in.
If they can’t intimidate me, they’ll go after the mother of our children.
Donald Trump picked the wrong target. We have nothing to hide.
His political operatives can take every record and read every page.
But they’ll be looking in the wrong place. Because if they really want to find corruption, look no further than 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Donald Trump is selling the presidency.
He is running the largest cash heist in American political history — trading foreign tariff relief for approval of his golf courses.
Day-trading behind the Resolute Desk.
Reaping hundreds of millions of dollars in personal profit.
He is doing it openly.
He is doing it on camera.
He did it last night on the White House lawn.
He is doing it through cryptocurrencies.
He is doing it through the receipt of a $400 million private jet from a foreign government that he plans to keep when he leaves office.
Through his sons’ ventures in countries where his own administration is simultaneously making policy.
His personal fortune has skyrocketed by $4 billion since making his return to office.
This is the behavior of a regime, not a republic.
The White House has become a marketplace.
A marketplace for sneakers, coins, and watches… cologne, guitars, bibles, and phones.
Influence for sale. Access for sale.
And today, my family and I can personally confirm that justice is for sale.
To Donald Trump, who I know is watching because he watches everything, I have a message for you:
You can subpoena my records.
You can investigate me.
You can harass me.
Put my name on every and any enemy’s list you have, but leave my wife and family out of your personal vendetta.
I’d like to say something to my wife: These times are not normal. They are not ordinary. I love you. I am sorry he is doing this. You have not earned a single one of the indignities that he is trying to inflict on you and our children.
And to Donald Trump, this country does not belong to you. It does not belong to your cronies.
We are going to fight your lawlessness — and we are going to continue to remind people of this country of your corruption.
That same corruption our founders warned us against.
As we move to celebrate our 250th anniversary, I’m going to keep reminding Americans of what they warned would happen if a man with no character ever held the Office of the President.
So let me say it again: Mr. President, come after me. I am not going anywhere.
And the country is watching.
Newsom has long been one of the president’s most prominent Democratic critics, blasting the president’s policies and attacking him by mimicking Trump’s distinctive social media rhetoric. He has also been floated as a potential frontrunner for Democrats in the 2028 presidential race, though he has not yet publicly committed to running. The alleged investigation into Newsom comes after Trump’s DOJ has launched numerous investigations into people who have been critical of the president, including Powell, James, former FBI Director James Comey, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., among others. Of those, Comey, James and former Trump adviser John Bolton have actually been indicted. Bolton pleaded guilty to allegations of retaining classified documents, while judges threw out charges against James and Comey—the latter of whom has since been indicted again. Trump has long vowed “retribution” against his political enemies, and the investigations into his critics come after the president previously claimed the Biden administration’s DOJ unfairly targeted him in order to hurt his chances at winning a second term.
Inside Gavin Newsom’s Multimillion-Dollar Business Empire (Forbes)
John Bolton Will Plead Guilty In Classified Docs Case—Major Win For Trump’s Revenge Campaign (Forbes)
Trump’s E. Jean Carroll Investigation Comes Amid Last-Ditch Effort To Get Out Of Paying $100 Million (Forbes)
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