California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) said Monday that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom [1, 2, 3].

The announcement signals a deepening conflict between the governor and the federal government. If the allegations of political weaponization are true, the probe could represent a significant escalation in the friction between California's leadership and the current administration.

Newsom spoke during a press briefing in Sacramento [1, 3]. He said the investigation is politically motivated and linked to his own political ambitions. The governor said the federal government is targeting him because he is considering a run for president [1, 5].

"President Trump is 'coming after me because I'm considering running for president,'" Newsom said [1].

Newsom said President Donald Trump is responsible for the probe [1, 2, 4]. He said the use of the Justice Department in this manner serves a political purpose rather than a legal one [1, 5].

The governor did not provide specific details regarding the nature of the investigation, or the specific allegations being probed by federal authorities [1, 2]. He said the timing and target of the inquiry are designed to hinder his potential candidacy [1, 5].

The White House and the Department of Justice have not yet issued a formal response to the governor's statements regarding the investigation [1, 4].

“"President Trump is 'coming after me because I'm considering running for president.'"”

This development places Governor Newsom at the center of a federal legal battle, mirroring a broader national trend of high-profile political figures accusing the Justice Department of partisan weaponization. By framing the investigation as a preemptive strike against a potential presidential candidate, Newsom is positioning himself as a political target of the Trump administration, which may influence his future electoral strategy and his standing within the Democratic Party.