California Governor Gavin Newsom says US President Donald Trump has directed the Justice Department to investigate him and his wife.
“They have not found a crime — they are simply trying to find one,” Mr Newsom wrote in a post on X.
The longtime political rival of the president said federal agents had in recent days knocked on the doors of his friends and former employees, asking for records.
“Donald Trump isn’t just coming after me because of my mean tweets,” Mr Newsom said, referencing his use of social media to mock Mr Trump.
“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.”
A source says there are multiple federal investigations into people around Gavin Newsom, including one related to his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom. (Reuters: Fred Greaves)
The full details of any investigations related to Mr Newsom were not immediately clear.
Multiple federal investigations into Newsom’s circle
A person familiar with the matter confirmed there were multiple federal investigations into people around Mr Newsom, including one related to his wife’s taxes.
The investigations began last year after whistleblower complaints about the Californian government.
The person, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said the political leadership in Washington was not involved in the decision to open the investigations.
The US Justice Department has also opened investigations into former FBI director James Comey, New York Attorney-General Letitia James, former CIA director John Brennan and former Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, among other perceived political enemies of the president.
“One by one, anyone who has challenged Donald Trump has ended up on his hit list, and today I proudly join that list,” Mr Newsom said.
“You [Mr Trump] can subpoena my records. You can investigate me. You can harass me. Put my name on every and any enemy’s list you have, but leave my wife and family out of your personal vendetta.“
The US president has repeatedly targeted Democrat-dominated California during his second term, including by withholding aid for wildfire recovery and suing over state policies supporting transgender student-athletes.
The state has pushed back by suing the federal government dozens of times.
Mr Newsom also led a push to counteract a Trump-backed effort in Texas to redraw congressional districts to favour Republicans by championing a successful redistricting measure in California.
AP/Reuters
