California Governor Gavin Newsom blames politics for a Justice Department investigation into his and his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s finances, but one critic says that explanation does little to address the conduct that drew the federal government’s attention in the first place.
“We don’t know whether these investigations are politically motivated or not,” said Joel Pollak, editor-in-chief of the California Post. told FOX Business.
“It didn’t help John Bolton when he said the investigation into his misuse of classified information was politically motivated. He recently pleaded guilty, so it doesn’t actually explain whether Newsom is guilty or not.”
Pollak said the controversy extends beyond charitable donations and focuses on so-called “requested payments” — contributions solicited by elected officials for causes or organizations they support.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom attends a bill signing event related to redrawing the state’s congressional maps, August 21, 2025, in Sacramento, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
In Newsom’s case, Pollak noted that some of the payments were addressed to organizations linked to Newsom’s wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, raising questions about possible conflicts of interest.
“It wasn’t just about charitable donations,” Pollak said.
“He was fined for failing to report what are called requested payments…and if Newsom were honest with the voters of California, he would come clean about what those requested payments are, instead of waiting past the deadline to report them,” he added.
Pollak argued that this arrangement gives the impression that donors could receive favorable treatment from the governor.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, attend a black tie dinner for U.S. governors and their spouses following the National Governors Association meetings in Washington, DC, February 24, 2024. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
The governor accused Trump’s Justice Department investigation of being politically motivated and linked it to his planned 2028 presidential bid.
“After calling for my arrest last year, Donald Trump ordered his Ministry of Justice to investigate me,” Newsom said in a video statement. “And last week, I learned that his campaign has reached my own home: to get me, he is going after my wife, Jen.”
In a statement to Fox News, Jennifer Siebel Newsom blasted the Trump administration for its alleged excesses.
“There is clearly no limit to what Donald Trump will do to get what he wants or to challenge those who get in his way. 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,” she said.
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The California governor’s office previously referred Fox News Digital to a fact sheet saying federal investigators spent months trying to charge Newsom and, when unsuccessful, broadened their search for criminal activity. The fact sheet also claims federal agents subpoenaed records and conducted interviews spanning years of activity.
Sources familiar with the matter told Fox News that the investigation has been ongoing since 2025 and is based on whistleblower complaints related to Newsom and his wife’s personal finances. The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento.
Bonny Chu and Robert Schmad of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.