Nearly four months after California Gov. Gavin Newsom unexpectedly announced that President Trump had launched what he called a politically motivated federal investigation into him and his wife, the governor says he still knows nothing more about it.
At the time, Newsom said federal agents had “knocked on the doors” of family friends and former employees.
Since then, Newsom, a likely 2028 Democratic presidential contender and one of Trump’s most outspoken critics, has gone on the offensive. He hired prominent defense attorney Abbe Lowell and requested Department of Justice (DOJ) records.
Trump, the DOJ and administration officials, meanwhile, have said nothing publicly about the matter, a silence some Democrats, including Newsom allies, call peculiar. The result is an unusual standoff in which Newsom is defending himself against an investigation that has never been officially disclosed.
“I know nothing more than you know. Period. Full stop,” Newsom told reporters late last month. “Never been contacted by anyone, and I continue to make this point.”
“They are trying to find something anywhere abusing this process, and it is a disgrace,” the governor added.
The situation comes as federal agents raided the Washington home of Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota earlier this week.
Last month, The San Francisco Standard obtained federal subpoenas seeking six years of records tied to the California State Protocol Foundation.
The foundation, funded mostly by corporate donations and run by a Newsom-appointed board, pays for the governor’s travel expenses. It was created under former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to cover travel costs for state officials and spare taxpayers, and every administration since has used it.
The foundation has paid for Newsom’s international trips and some domestic travel. The Los Angeles Times reported that in 2020, it covered Newsom’s trip to Miami for Super Bowl LIV, where he represented the state as the San Francisco 49ers played.
According to the Standard, the subpoenas sought communications involving Steve Kawa, Newsom’s former chief of staff from his time as San Francisco mayor who headed the foundation, and Becca Prowda, a foundation employee and the wife of San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie.
Some Democrats have speculated that Trump may try to tie Newsom to his former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, who accepted a plea deal earlier this year after being accused of campaign finance fraud, political corruption and tax fraud. She is expected to be sentenced in December.
Still, the scope of the investigation remains unclear, including whether prosecutors are examining any wrongdoing by Newsom himself. A DOJ spokesperson did not respond to questions.
“It’s been strange from the beginning,” one California Democratic consultant said. “The person who is being investigated is releasing the news and the person doing the investigation is quiet.”
The feud between the two men runs deep. After Trump suggested at a rally last week that he would allow Iran to “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego, Newsom called the president “mentally ill” and declared it “TIME FOR THE 25TH!”
Trump has repeatedly attacked Newsom, calling him the worst governor in the country.
Newsom allies insist the probe is political.
“No greater honor among Democrats than to have Trump trash you,” said Garry South, a former Newsom adviser.
