California Governor Gavin Newsom recently claimed that President Donald Trump’s Justice Department is investigating him and his wife, which has sent ripples through the state’s political scene, even reaching former Vice President Kamala Harris.
On Tuesday, Harris addressed the situation, saying she was “not surprised” by the allegations. Speaking to a CNN reporter, she characterized the Trump administration as “the most ruthless, corrupt, and incompetent presidential administration the United States has ever had.” She added, “I predicted almost everything that happened during this administration.”
At an event for the Austrian World Summit, Harris noted that Trump has indicated he would target his political rivals, aligning with the current news around Newsom.
Newsom contends that the investigation is politically motivated, particularly as he ponders a presidential run in 2028. He pointed out other federal probes into Democrats as evidence of this pattern.
“Trump isn’t coming after me just for my critical tweets; he’s going after me because I’m considering a presidential bid, and he resents how I keep calling out his lies and deceit,” he stated.
Other Democrats, including Harris, seem to share Newsom’s perspective, even though she, too, has aspirations for the presidency in 2028.
Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) remarked, “The president’s manipulation of the Department of Justice continues, with new targets emerging daily. The Governor will not remain silent—neither will my Senate colleagues or I. We will resist this vindictive and unfounded investigation.”
However, some have raised doubts about whether this investigation started under the Trump administration or during the tenure of former President Joe Biden. Notably, this includes an inquiry that led to the guilty plea of Newsom’s former chief of staff for federal fraud and tax offenses earlier this year.
The Justice Department has chosen not to comment on these matters.
A source familiar with the situation informed a publication that Newsom’s administration is presently grappling with multiple inquiries related to public corruption and tax issues dating back at least a year. These complaints involve him, his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and both current and former officials.
Siebel Newsom’s nonprofit activities seem to be a significant focus of the investigation. The governor previously helped raise over $4.4 million from wealthy benefactors for one of her initiatives, the California Partners Project.
Another insider suggested that Newsom’s announcement regarding the investigation could stem from apprehensions about who investigators might have already contacted.
“What he seems to be doing is trying to taint the investigation and undermine its legitimacy,” the insider mentioned.
