Jennifer Siebel Newsom Reacts to DOJ Probe
California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom is pushing back forcefully against reports of a Department of Justice investigation involving her, Governor Gavin Newsom, and individuals connected to their political and nonprofit activities.
In a statement responding to the reported federal probe, Siebel Newsom accused President Donald Trump of using the powers of government to target political opponents and their families.
“There are clearly no boundaries to what Donald Trump will do to get his way or to challenge those who get in his way,” she said.
“This is not presidential behavior, and the Governor and I will continue to speak truth to power because the American people deserve so much more.”
Her comments followed a video released by Gov. Gavin Newsom in which he claimed the Justice Department had launched an investigation into him and people close to him as political retaliation tied to speculation about a potential 2028 presidential campaign.
“In recent days, federal agents have knocked on the doors of family, friends, and former employees, not because they found a crime, because they’re simply trying to find one,” Newsom said in the video posted to X.
“They’re demanding records, they’re abusing the grand jury process, digging through years and years of random documents.”
Newsom further alleged that Trump was targeting him because of his public criticism of the president and because he is viewed as a possible future Democratic presidential contender.
“Donald Trump isn’t just coming after me because of my mean tweets,” Newsom said. “He’s coming after me because I’m considering running for president, because he hates that I’ve consistently called him out over and over again for his lies and deceit.”
While federal officials have not publicly detailed the scope of any investigation, reports citing sources familiar with the matter indicate that one area of scrutiny involves nonprofit organizations associated with Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
Among those organizations is the California Partners Project, one of Siebel Newsom’s highest-profile initiatives. Previous reporting indicated that the nonprofit received millions of dollars in contributions from wealthy donors and organizations with interests before the state government.
Additional attention has reportedly focused on the Representation Project, a nonprofit founded by Siebel Newsom that promotes gender equity initiatives. Tax filings show that the organization paid Girls Club Entertainment, a film production company owned by Siebel Newsom, $161,250 for production-related services in 2024.
A separate reported line of inquiry involves former Newsom chief of staff Dana Williamson. Williamson pleaded guilty last month in a corruption case involving allegations that she improperly assisted a former client who was facing legal action from the state.
Newsom has also accused the administration of politicizing the Justice Department under its current leadership. He specifically pointed to Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal attorney, who now leads the department following the departure of former Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The governor's decision to publicly discuss the investigation before federal authorities have announced details has drawn attention from political observers.
Matt Klink, a Los Angeles-based political strategist, suggested the strategy could benefit Newsom politically among Democratic voters by reinforcing his image as one of Trump's most outspoken critics.
“Typically, the way the federal government works is they announce they’re investigating you and if the investigation closes, no one says anything,” Klink said.
“Gavin Newsom is trying to do the opposite — he’s saying he is being investigated and the federal government is being quiet. It keeps him at the center of, ‘I’m fighting Trump and Trump is out to get me.’”
For now, many of the key questions remain unanswered. Federal authorities have not publicly confirmed the precise nature of the investigation, nor have they announced any charges involving either Gavin Newsom or Jennifer Siebel Newsom.