June 16, 2026 — 7:10am
Washington: California Governor Gavin Newsom, a presumed Democratic candidate for the US presidency in 2028, says he and his wife are the victims of a politically motivated investigation by US President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice.
Newsom said in a video statement that federal agents had knocked on the doors of his family members, friends and former employees in recent days. He did not provide details about these encounters, but said that agents were “demanding records” and “trying to find” a crime.
“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,” Newsom said, calling Trump “the most corrupt president in American history”.
The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The White House declined to comment and referred questions to the Justice Department.
Newsom, whose term as governor ends early next year, has long been considered a leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination and has relentlessly targeted Trump online using rhetoric and invective similar to that deployed by the president and White House social media accounts.
In his video message on Monday (US time), Newsom provided few details about what federal agents may have been investigating, nor how his wife, Jennifer, was being targeted. He said they both had nothing to hide, and called on Trump to leave his family out of the “personal vendetta”.
US President Donald Trump at the G7 in France on Monday. Getty Images Newsom pointed out that the Justice Department had attempted to investigate and indict several of the president’s enemies, including former FBI director James Comey , former Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell and the woman who successfully sued Trump for rape, writer E. Jean Carroll .
“One by one, anyone who has challenged Donald Trump has ended up on his hit-list, and today I proudly join that list,” Newsom said.
He noted that the Justice Department was now being administered by Trump’s former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, who is the acting attorney-general after Pam Bondi was sacked this year .
Bondi’s failure to secure charges against Trump’s political enemies was a factor in her dismissal, with Trump publicly chiding her for not moving faster.
Gavin Newsom, pictured attending a FIFA World Cup match between the USA and Paraguay, said he had nothing to hide. Getty Images The Associated Press and The New York Times reported multiple federal investigations were under way relating to Newsom, including one examining his wife’s finances, citing a person familiar with the matter.
But the person reportedly said the investigations were not politically motivated and were initiated by officials in California, not Washington, following whistleblower complaints.
Newsom used the video to make pointed critiques of Trump, accusing him of “selling the presidency” through merchandise sales, cryptocurrency plays, deals with foreign governments and his son’s business ventures.
“This is the behaviour of a regime, not a republic,” he said.
Jennifer Newsom, the governor’s wife, said the investigation showed that Trump was unfit for office. “There are clearly no boundaries to what Donald Trump will do to get his way or to challenge those who get in his way,” she said in a statement.
with AP
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Read the full article at The Sydney Morning Herald →📄Source document: California Governor Gavin Newsom
5 reports
The AgeParty-alignedLeft5 days agoGavin Newsom, a presumed candidate for the US presidency in 2028, claims he is under investigation by the Justice Department, which he describes as politically motivated.
Bias read (Left): The article presents Gavin Newsom's claim without counterpoints or additional context, using language that frames his investigation as 'politically motivated,' which aligns with a left-leaning perspective. No opposing viewpoints or official sources are cited to balance the narrative.
The Sydney Morning HeraldParty-alignedCenter5 days agoGavin Newsom, a presumed candidate for the US presidency in 2028, claims he is under investigation by the Justice Department, which he describes as politically motivated.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual statement without overtly biased language or framing. It reports Newsom's claim without endorsing it or providing additional context or counterpoints.
The Sydney Morning HeraldParty-alignedLeft5 days ago ‘Trying to find a crime’: Trump-rival Newsom says he is being investigated by Justice DepartmentCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom claims he and his wife are under investigation by the Department of Justice, which he alleges is politically motivated due to his potential candidacy for the 2028 U.S. presidency. Newsom stated that federal agents have been contacting his associates and demanding records, though no specific details about the nature of the investigation were provided. The Department of Justice and White House have not commented on the allegations.
Bias read (Left): The article presents Newsom's claim without directly challenging it, but frames the situation through Newsom's perspective, including his assertion that the investigation is politically motivated and his characterization of Trump as 'the most corrupt president in American history.' This framing, as
Official sources cited
- government California Governor Gavin Newsom
- government Department of Justice
The AgeParty-alignedLeft5 days ago ‘Trying to find a crime’: Trump-rival Newsom says he is being investigated by Justice DepartmentCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom claims he and his wife are under investigation by the Department of Justice, which he alleges is politically motivated due to his potential candidacy for the U.S. presidency. Newsom stated that federal agents have been contacting his associates and demanding records, though no specific details about the nature of the investigation were provided. The Department of Justice and the White House have not commented on the allegations.
Bias read (Left): The article presents Newsom's claim without counter-narratives or independent verification, emphasizing his assertion that the investigation is politically motivated. It includes direct quotes from Newsom criticizing Trump and labeling him 'the most corrupt president in American history,' which is a
Official sources cited
- government California Governor Gavin Newsom
ABC News (Australia)State / PublicLeft5 days agoCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom has accused US President Donald Trump of directing the Justice Department to conduct politically motivated investigations against him and his wife. He claims federal agents have been visiting the homes of his associates and former employees to obtain records. Newsom stated that no crimes have been found and suggested the investigations are an attempt to find wrongdoing.
Bias read (Left): The article presents Governor Gavin Newsom's accusations against President Donald Trump without counterpoints or balanced perspectives from Trump or his administration. The framing emphasizes Trump's alleged political motivations and portrays Newsom as a victim of unfair targeting, which aligns with
Official sources cited
- press release Reuters: Adrees Latif
Australia