Newsom says DOJ conducting baseless investigation of him and his wife at Trump's direction

Key Points:

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom accused the Justice Department of conducting politically motivated federal investigations into him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, at former President Donald Trump’s direction, allegations both the White House and DOJ have declined to comment on.
• Two federal probes have been ongoing for about a year, focusing on Newsom’s former chief of staff Dana Williamson and Siebel Newsom’s taxes, initiated by Sacramento federal prosecutors based on whistleblower information, not direct White House orders.
• Newsom and his wife deny any wrongdoing, with Newsom alleging the investigations are retaliatory due to his criticism of Trump and potential 2028 presidential ambitions, while Siebel Newsom condemned Trump’s tactics as undemocratic.
• The investigations partly involve Siebel Newsom’s nonprofit and business dealings, with records demanded from associates and donors; neither Newsom nor his wife have been subpoenaed yet but expect to be.
• Sacramento U.S. Attorney Eric Grant, a Trump appointee with extensive DOJ experience, oversees the probes and emphasizes impartiality in investigations, contrasting with other politically charged cases involving Trump opponents.