California Governor Investigation
The international travels of California Governor Gavin Newsom, funded by private donors, have caught the attention of a federal criminal investigation, as reported by the San Francisco Standard.
Recently, the Standard examined subpoenas issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, particularly from a California U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to the report, these subpoenas, which were issued in early September, are seeking testimony and communications from the governor and others. They aim to collect six years’ worth of records related to the California State Protocol Foundation, a nonprofit that has financed Newsom’s overseas trips. They also include discussions with a network of his current and former aides, like Rebecca Prowda, who is responsible for Newsom’s travel as his chief protocol officer and is married to San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie.
This investigation seems to offer the most detailed insight into the scrutiny surrounding the governor and his wife.
As outlined in one subpoena reviewed by the Standard, the records requested are related to a criminal investigation underway in the Eastern District of California, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Anderson overseeing the matter.
Investigators are particularly interested in communications with members of the Protocol Foundation’s board, many of whom are also close to Newsom.
The California Post analyzed state records and found that since 2019, Newsom has funneled over $7.5 million in donations from outside sources to the Protocol Foundation, with about $5.1 million stemming from leftover inauguration funds.
Notably, some of the foundation’s primary donors are companies or groups that have dealings with the state or are impacted by Newsom’s policies. This includes donors like CVS, Blue Shield’s foundation, and Zoox, the autonomous vehicle company in San Francisco. Additionally, Newsom has solicited contributions from the New Venture Fund, a left-leaning dark money group, and cryptocurrency billionaire Chris Larsen. Other significant backers include foundations linked to affluent philanthropists Susie Tompkins Buell and Lisa Stone Pritzker, who both support Newsom’s political endeavors and his wife’s nonprofit activities.
Essentially, investigators appear to be examining whether these generous donations result in advantageous government decisions — a situation often referred to as “pay to play.”
In response to the investigation’s recent developments, the governor’s office claimed that this was an effort orchestrated by former President Donald Trump. They asserted that Trump targets those opposing him:
“Governor Newsom went after the king — and as he warned in June, the tyrant is now coming after everyone around him. This is what Donald Trump does to his enemies: investigate first, hunt for a crime that doesn’t exist second. It’s deeply upsetting to see innocent staff, friends, and family have their names dragged through the mud just because they’re associated with the Governor,” the statement read.
There’s speculation that Newsom might be a candidate for the 2028 presidential election, which some believe makes him a significant target for Trump.
The Protocol Foundation, which has been covering California governors’ travel expenses for over 20 years through private donations rather than taxpayer funds, has defended its operations. A spokesperson for the foundation stated that they cannot discuss or verify the investigation but emphasized its role:
“It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has proudly supported both Republican and Democratic administrations in fulfilling their duties representing all of California through public events and international engagements,” the spokesperson commented.
