Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) accused President Donald Trump of using the Justice Department to “send a message” to political opponents, warning that those who challenge Trump risk retaliation.
“Go after Donald Trump and he’ll send the DOJ after you, your family, and anyone else who stands in his way,” the Newsom Press Office wrote Tuesday on X, referencing comments from MS Now legal analyst Melissa Murray, who suggested the investigation appears aimed at sending a political message rather than uncovering wrongdoing.
The latest clash adds to a long-running feud between Newsom and Trump over immigration policy, disaster relief, crime, and the role of the federal government. Newsom, widely assumed to be a 2028 Democratic presidential contender, has emerged as one of Trump’s most prominent critics.
Newsom claimed that he and his wife, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, are under investigation and that authorities have sought information from individuals in their circle.
Newsom argued that the investigation is politically motivated, though the Justice Department has not publicly confirmed its existence.
GAVIN NEWSOM CLAIMS TRUMP DIRECTED DOJ TO INVESTIGATE HIM AND HIS WIFE
The Newsom Press Office described the situation as a “personal weaponization of the justice system again by the sitting president to take down an opponent.”
Newsom’s office filed a Freedom of Information Act request Monday, seeking Justice Department records related to the reported investigation, including emails, messages, and other communications from senior DOJ officials, in efforts to determine how Trump’s investigation was authorized and conducted.