California Governor Gavin Newsom’s claims that President Donald Trump’s Justice Department launched a politically motivated investigation against him are facing new scrutiny after multiple reports indicated key federal inquiries predate Trump’s second administration. The timeline has become a central point in the dispute, with Newsom arguing the current Justice Department is weaponizing investigations against a political rival, while news organizations report that at least some investigative activity began before Trump returned to the White House.
According to CalMatters, at least two criminal investigations involving Newsom’s orbit have been underway for about a year in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California. The outlet, citing a Justice Department source familiar with the matter, reported the investigations originated from whistleblowers and local complaints in Sacramento. One inquiry involving former Newsom chief of staff Dana Williamson was opened during the Biden administration. Williamson pleaded guilty earlier this year to corruption charges in a case that did not implicate Newsom.
CBS News, Axios, the Financial Times, and The Guardian have also reported similar timelines, citing sources familiar with the investigations. These outlets indicated that at least one federal inquiry began roughly a year ago and originated in California rather than at Justice Department headquarters in Washington. Despite that reported chronology, Newsom has maintained that the current Justice Department has expanded or politicized the investigations, describing the inquiry as a politically motivated “fishing expedition” in retaliation for his criticism of Trump and his national political profile.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche pushed back on that characterization this week. While declining to comment on any ongoing investigations, Blanche told reporters he was “not sure [Newsom’s] words are in any way grounded in fact,” adding that the California governor “would have to address that.” Blanche did not confirm or deny whether any investigation exists. Newsom’s office responded by mocking Blanche on social media, posting a meme captioned “Why you always lyin,” while the governor’s press office said, “Trump goons know that it’s not a crime to lie to a reporter.”
According to CalMatters, Newsom’s office contends federal prosecutors expanded their inquiries after failing to build a case from the Williamson investigation, broadening their scrutiny to include the governor’s wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the couple’s finances, and their associates. The outlet reported investigators have examined the first partner’s tax filings, nonprofit organizations, and certain behested payments, though it did not allege those payments were unlawful. Fox News Digital previously reported, citing federal sources, that investigators have opened inquiries involving Jennifer Siebel Newsom, but that Fox News had not learned of any federal investigation directly targeting Gov. Newsom himself.
The dispute over the investigation’s origins has fueled broader questions about the role of the Justice Department in politically sensitive cases. Newsom’s administration has sought records through the Freedom of Information Act in an effort to determine who ordered or directed the current investigation. The Department of Justice, the White House, and Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The situation underscores ongoing tensions between state and federal authorities, as well as the challenges of separating legitimate law enforcement from political influence in a polarized environment.