Federal investigations into California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom stem from whistleblower complaints and were not launched by the Department of Justice in Washington, a source familiar with the matter has revealed.
Newsom, a likely Democratic White House contender in 2028, accused Republican President Donald Trump on Monday of launching a criminal investigation into him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, as a “personal vendetta”.
The source familiar with the investigations told AFP that the probes were not initiated by “main Justice” but were begun about a year ago by the Sacramento-based US attorney for the Eastern District of California and were triggered by information from whistleblowers.
The source, who requested anonymity, said the investigations were focused on “tax activity” involving Newsom’s wife, a documentary filmmaker, and activities related to his former chief of staff and possibly current aides.
Dana Williamson, a former Newsom chief of staff, pleaded guilty in May to bank and wire fraud and other felony charges stemming from a position she held prior to working for the Governor.
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