California Governor Newsom accuses Trump of politically motivated investigation

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday accused President Donald Trump of directing the Justice Department to initiate a politically motivated investigation targeting him and his wife. In a video posted on X, Newsom stated that federal agents have recently been knocking on the doors of his friends and former employees, requesting records. He argued that this is happening not because a crime has been found, but because authorities are simply trying to find one.

Newsom claimed that Trump is targeting him not only for his sharp social media comments but also because he is considering a presidential run and has repeatedly criticized Trump. He called the president "corrupt" and drew parallels to investigations against former FBI Director James Comey.

However, a person familiar with the matter confirmed that there are multiple federal investigations into individuals around Newsom, including one related to his wife's taxes. These probes began last year following whistleblower complaints within California's government, and the decision to open them was not made by Washington political leadership.

This is the latest in a series of Justice Department investigations against Trump's perceived political enemies. Similar investigations or prosecutions have been launched against former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.