California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Monday that the Department of Justice has opened an investigation into him, alleging the probe is being conducted at the direction of President Donald Trump. Newsom stated in a video that federal agents have contacted family friends and former employees, in what he described as an effort to uncover wrongdoing where none exists.
Newsom framed the investigation as the latest instance of what he called the weaponization of the DOJ against political adversaries of the president. He suggested the move is retaliation for his vocal criticism of Trump and his potential entry into the 2024 presidential race.
“In recent days, federal agents have knocked on the doors of family friends and former employees,” Newsom said in his statement. “Not because they found a crime. Because they are simply trying to find one.” He accused the administration of abusing the grand jury process and demanding records spanning years.
The governor did not provide specific evidence linking the probe directly to the White House, and the DOJ has not confirmed or commented on the investigation. The claim comes as Newsom has increasingly positioned himself as a potential challenger to Trump in 2028.
If true, the probe would mark an extraordinary escalation in the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and its critics. However, without independent confirmation or DOJ comment, the full scope and motivation behind the investigation remain unclear.