Newsom Claims Trump Used DOJ to Target Him as 2028 Speculation Grows
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has accused President Donald Trump of directing the Department of Justice to investigate him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, describing the reported probes as politically motivated retaliation tied to his potential 2028 presidential ambitions.
In a video statement released Monday, Newsom said federal agents have contacted family friends and former employees while seeking records in what he characterized as an effort to find wrongdoing rather than investigate a known crime. He argued the investigations are part of a broader pattern of targeting political opponents.
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Reporting from Reuters, Axios and California-focused outlets indicates federal investigations connected to Newsom-related matters have been underway for some time, though public evidence that Trump personally ordered them has not been presented.
The dispute carries national implications because Newsom is widely viewed as a potential Democratic presidential contender in 2028. It also adds to an ongoing feud between the California governor and the Trump administration over federal authority, state policy and the use of executive power.
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