On Wednesday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche dismissed California Governor Gavin Newsom’s assertions that the Justice Department is politically targeting him, stating that the claims are “not based in fact.”
This response came after Newsom’s comments last month, where he suggested the Justice Department was under the influence of President Donald Trump in investigating him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
While Blanche refrained from discussing specifics about the ongoing investigation, he made it clear that he didn’t support the governor’s narrative. “The only thing I can say about what he chose to say is that I don’t know if his words are based in fact or not,” he remarked at a press conference. “He’s going to have to deal with it,” he added.
Newsom had claimed on June 15 that Trump ordered the Justice Department to look into him and his wife as a move to undermine his possible presidential campaign. He portrayed the investigation as a politically motivated “fishing expedition” and insisted that both he and his wife “have nothing to hide.” He implied that their investigation was a personal attack linked to his presidential aspirations, saying, “They’re coming after my wife to get me.”
“Donald Trump isn’t just going after me because of my mean tweets. He’s going after me because I’m considering running for president,” Newsom stated. He continued with a sharp critique: “Because he hates that I have consistently criticized his lies and deceit. Donald Trump is simply the most corrupt president in American history.”
Blanche pushed back against Newsom’s broader statements, affirming, “He can say whatever he thinks is helpful to him. That’s not true.”
Prior reports suggested that the investigation, which began in 2025 due to a whistleblower complaint regarding the couple’s finances, is being managed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento. Federal officials have acknowledged an ongoing investigation involving Jennifer Siebel Newsom, but there hasn’t been confirmation of any direct investigation into Newsom himself.
The Justice Department has not publicly commented on this matter. Jennifer Siebel Newsom is known for her work as a documentary filmmaker and for running The Representation Project, a nonprofit aimed at advancing feminist issues through media. This organization has faced scrutiny as allegations suggest that donors with interests in California contributed to gain influence with Newsom.
In response to Blanche’s statements, Newsom’s office shared a meme on social media with the text, “Why do you always lie?” Their press office remarked, “Trump’s minions know that lying to reporters is not a crime.”
Fox News Digital reached out for additional comments from Newsom’s office, but there was no immediate response.
