California Gov. Gavin Newsom has turned to a prominent Democratic defense lawyer as federal scrutiny of his administration intensifies.
Newsom confirmed at a Tuesday press conference that he has retained Abbe Lowell, a veteran defense attorney known for representing Hunter Biden and other high-profile Democratic figures.
Lowell served as Biden’s lawyer in two major criminal matters: a federal tax case in California and an illegal firearms case in Delaware.
Hunter Biden was later pardoned by President Joe Biden near the end of his presidency, after the younger Biden pleaded guilty in the California tax case and was convicted by a Delaware jury on multiple felony gun charges.
Newsom has characterized the Justice Department’s inquiry as a “fishing expedition” and said neither he nor his wife has been contacted by federal authorities or served with a subpoena.
A source familiar with the matter told The Post that the Newsom administration is facing multiple investigations involving public corruption allegations that date back at least a year and extend to the governor, his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and both former and current staff members.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California is also examining claims raised by California whistleblowers involving Siebel Newsom’s taxes and Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson.
A second source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Post that the case is being overseen by Eastern District of California US Attorney Eric Grant, and suggested Newsom’s decision to publicly announce Lowell’s hiring may reflect concern over who investigators have already approached.
“What he’s trying to do is poison the well and delegitimize the whole process,” the source said.
Newsom has taken advantage of the Trump administration’s attention.
Within hours of releasing a video accusing President Donald Trump of weaponizing the Department of Justice, Newsom’s political action committee, Campaign for Democracy, sent out an email pleading for money to help with his potential legal defense and political strategy.
Newsom then raised $250,000 in the first two weeks from the PAC and two associated accounts — Campaign for Democracy Committee and Campaign for Democracy Group — consisting mostly of small-dollar individual donations.
The Newsom attorney has also represented New York Attorney General Letitia James and Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook.
Lowell has gotten into trouble of his own as he represented the Democratic stars.
A lawsuit, filed in September 2024, accused Lowell of acting with “clear malice” and harming the reputations of the IRS employees investigating the former first son when he alleged to the media that they had illegally leaked Hunter’s private tax information.
He settled for $20 million in the lawsuit brought by IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler.
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