Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche pushed back Wednesday against California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s allegation that the Department of Justice is politically targeting him, offering his first public response to the governor’s claims.
Speaking at a news conference, Blanche said he could not discuss any pending investigations. Still, he rejected Newsom’s suggestion that he and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, were the subject of retaliation by the Trump administration.
“The only thing I’ll say about what he chose to do and what he chose to say is that I’m not sure his words are in any way grounded in fact,” Blanche said. “He’d have to address that.”
Newsom brought the matter into public view last month, saying federal agents had questioned members of his family, along with friends and employees.
“Donald Trump isn’t just coming after me because of my mean tweets, 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,” Newsom said at the time.
The governor’s office also suggested that the investigation intensified around the time Blanche was being considered for the attorney general position on a permanent basis.
Blanche appeared to brush aside those assertions Wednesday, framing Newsom’s comments as political messaging rather than fact.
“He can choose to say whatever he thinks helps him — it doesn’t make it true,” Blanche said.
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Sources previously told The California Post that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of California is specifically probing allegations brought forward by California whistleblowers regarding Newsom’s wife’s taxes, as well as his former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, and potentially some current staff.
News of the probe has heightened scrutiny of governor helping funnel more than $4.4 million from special interests and wealthy individuals to California Partners Project, one of Siebel Newsom’s pet projects.
In response to Blanche’s remarks, the governor’s office posted a meme with the caption “Why you always lyin.”
“Trump goons know that it’s not a crime to lie to a reporter,” his office added.
