Jennifer Siebel Newsom is forcefully pushing back against a reported Department of Justice investigation involving her and California Governor Gavin Newsom, casting the matter as a political attack on their family.
California’s first partner said President Donald Trump was willing to cross any line in targeting political opponents. “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.
She went on to condemn what she described as conduct unworthy of the presidency, adding, “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 remarks followed Gavin Newsom’s claim that Trump had directed the DOJ to investigate him, his wife and other members of their family in what the governor described as political retaliation, as speculation continues over a possible 2028 presidential bid.
People close to Newsom have said the reported inquiry centers on nonprofit initiatives tied to Jennifer Siebel Newsom. One of those organizations is said to have received millions of dollars from special interests with business before the state.
Sources close to Newsom have suggested the probe focuses on nonprofit projects connected to his wife, one of which received millions of dollars from special interests doing business with the state.
A second line of inquiry reportedly involves a corruption case tied to the governor’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, who pleaded guilty last month after illegally helping a former client who was being sued by the state, among other crimes.
âIn recent days, federal agents have knocked on the doors of family, friends, and former employees, not because they found a crime, because theyâre simply trying to find one,â Newsom said in a video posted to X.
âTheyâre demanding records, theyâre abusing the grand jury process, digging through years and years of random documents.
“Donald Trump isnât just coming after me because of my mean tweets, heâs coming after me because Iâm considering running for president, because he hates that Iâve consistently called him out over and over again for his lies and deceit.â
Newsom has been a staunch critic of the president ever since Trump was reelected in 2024 and has frequently mocked the president’s tone and voice as part of his own social media strategy.
The governor argued Trump was using his personal attorney, Todd Blanche, at the helm of the Justice Department to target political enemies after appointing him to lead the DOJ following Pam Bondi’s firing.
Part of the scrutiny appears to involve Siebel Newsom’s nonprofit work.
The Post previously revealed that Newsom directed more than $4.4 million from special interests and wealthy individuals to the California Partners Project, one of her signature initiatives.
The organization coordinated activities with two other groups linked to Siebel Newsom, both of which pay her a salary.
Siebel Newsom founded the Representation Project, a gender equity nonprofit, and owns Girls Club Entertainment, a film production company listed as a contractor on the nonprofit’s tax returns.
The Representation Project paid Girls Club Entertainment $161,250 for film production work in 2024, according to the most recent IRS filings.
Matt Klink, a political strategist in Los Angeles and owner and president of Klink Campaigns, said Newsom’s decision to go public gives him “added street cred in the Democratic Party.”
âTypically, the way the federal government works is they announce theyâre investigating you and if the investigation closes, no one says anything,â Klink said.
âGavin Newsom is trying to do the opposite â heâs saying he is being investigated and the federal government is being quiet. It keeps him at the center of, âIâm fighting Trump and Trump is out to get me.ââ
