Gov. Newsom Claims DOJ Targeting His Wife and Ex‑Staff Over Politics

Tue Jun 16 2026 17:00:01 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

California governor says federal agents are hunting his wife and former chief of staff—he says it's a political hit linked to a swing for the 2028 presidency.

In a dramatic video, Governor Gavin Newsom accused the Justice Department of launching probes into his wife and a former chief of staff, alleging the files stem from his opposition to President Trump. He framed the investigations as political persecution tied to a possible 2028 presidential run. The claims coincide with other DOJ actions against Trump critics, though no evidence of wrongdoing has emerged so far.

In a video posted on Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom alleged that federal agents were “knocking on the door” of friends, family and former employees because of his political stance against President Donald Trump.

He said the investigations—targeting his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and a former chief of staff—were a response to his speculation about running for the White House in 2028. “One by one, anyone who has challenged Donald Trump has ended up on his hit list,” Newsom told viewers, claiming the probes were political persecution.

A source told BBC that the DOJ had been conducting “several investigations” for roughly a year. The inquiries started in California and involved whistleblowers and government contacts. The case cited one probe over the governor’s wife’s taxes and another involving a former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, who recently pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges unrelated to Newsom.

Newsom said federal investigators were demanding records and abusing the grand‑jury process. The governor positioned himself as a foil to Trump, mocking his social media style and pushing for new congressional maps.

While the Justice Department has pursued other Trump critics—such as former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James—the investigations into Newsom’s circle remain untitled. Both Newsom and the DOJ have declined to comment further.