{"id":2614679,"date":"2026-06-16T14:29:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T18:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/newsom-to-parlay-doj-inquiry-gift-to-elevate-himself-as-2028-contender\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T14:31:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T18:31:09","slug":"newsom-to-parlay-doj-inquiry-gift-to-elevate-himself-as-2028-contender","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/newsom-to-parlay-doj-inquiry-gift-to-elevate-himself-as-2028-contender\/","title":{"rendered":"Newsom to parlay DOJ inquiry &#8216;gift&#8217; to elevate himself as 2028 contender"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnewsom-to-parlay-doj-inquiry-gift-to-elevate-himself-as-2028-contender%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2614679&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>California Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has reignited his prominence in national politics by claiming that the Department of Justice is investigating him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and asserting that these investigations are politically motivated retaliation by President Donald Trump. Newsom linked the investigation to his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pete-buttigieg-leans-into-new-media-ahead-of-possible-2028-run\/\" title=\"Pete Buttigieg leans into new media ahead of possible 2028 run\">potential 2028 presidential bid<\/a>,portraying himself as a target of Trump\u2019s hostility and positioning himself as a leader of the Democratic resistance. <\/p>\n<p>He called on the DOJ to release communications related to him and his wife,framing the inquiry as an abuse of power. Political experts see this as a strategic move to elevate Newsom\u2019s profile ahead of potential presidential campaigns, emphasizing his stance against Trump and rallying Democratic support. The investigations reportedly involve inquiries into tax activities involving his wife and a former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, who pleaded guilty to federal charges tied to a broader political scandal. <\/p>\n<p>While Newsom claims the investigation is politically driven, officials from the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office say they do not confirm or deny ongoing investigations. The article highlights Newsom\u2019s ongoing efforts to build a national profile through direct clashes with Trump and the GOP, using controversy to keep himself in the spotlight. Experts advise caution, noting that overplaying the Trump opposition may <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >risk alienating voters seeking<\/a> new policy directions, and emphasize that the investigation&#8217;s origins appear to be from within California\u2019s federal prosecutors rather than the DOJ headquarters.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1426\">Gov. Gavin Newsom<\/a> (D-CA) is once again placing himself at the center of the national political conversation, using claims that the Department of Justice is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4609334\/gavin-newsom-trump-doj-investigation-wife\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4609334\/gavin-newsom-trump-doj-investigation-wife\/\">investigating<\/a> him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, to argue that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">President Donald Trump <\/a>sees him as a political threat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After announcing Monday that federal authorities were scrutinizing both him and the first partner of California, Newsom quickly tied the matter to his national ambitions, declaring that Trump was \u201ccoming after me because I\u2019m considering running for president.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4610485\/human-smuggler-mexico-sentenced-global-crime-ring\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>\u2018Prolific\u2019 human smuggler from Mexico sentenced for role in global crime ring<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4610697\/mother-tip-unravel-white-house-ufc-drone-attack-plot\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mother\u2019s tip helped unravel White House UFC drone plot: Affidavit<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4610300\/police-kill-suspect-accused-shooting-woman-northwest-dc\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Police kill suspect accused of shooting woman in Northwest DC<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A day later, Newsom claimed in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GavinNewsom\/status\/2066923548128792600\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GavinNewsom\/status\/2066923548128792600\">follow-up post<\/a> that \u201cTrump\u2019s DOJ is on a fishing expedition for a crime that doesn\u2019t exist. The American people deserve to know who ordered this abuse of power, what they were looking for, and how far it goes. That\u2019s why we\u2019re demanding all communications involving top DOJ officials \u2014 emails, texts, memos, and even Signal messages \u2014 that reference me or my wife. We have nothing to hide. Do they?\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The episode offered a glimpse into a strategy Newsom has increasingly embraced as he prepares for a possible <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2028-elections\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11676\">2028 White House bid<\/a>: portraying himself as Trump\u2019s chief antagonist, someone leading the Democratic resistance. Rather than downplaying the controversy, Newsom appeared eager to frame it as political retaliation from a president targeting a possible rival.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Governor Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo\/Jeff Chiu)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGavin Newsom\u2019s statement, whether true or not, keeps him at the top of every Democrat\u2019s mind for a presidential candidate in 2028,\u201d California-based political expert Matt Klink told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cIt\u2019s always helpful for a Democrat to claim that the evil Trump is investigating you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Klink added that it was \u201cinteresting, though, because the public usually hears that the federal government has launched an investigation against someone, not the other way around. Gavin Newsom\u2019s announcement is atypical, but it does keep at the top of the news cycle. I\u2019m sure if he is indicted, the impartial American justice system will presume his innocence, and he will get his day in court.\u201d  <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lauren Horwood, the public information officer, at the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for the Eastern District of California, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that \u201cas a matter of policy, our office does not confirm or deny the existence of investigations.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Newsom has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/feinstein-accepts-lifetime-achievement-award-from-bush-scions-ccp-backed-group\/\" title=\"Feinstein Accepts Lifetime Achievement Award From Bush Scion...s CCP-Backed Group\">spent years cultivating<\/a> a national profile through public clashes with Trump and other Republicans, from immigration and environmental policy fights to his recent media appearances, podcast interviews, and high-profile battles with the White House. Newsom\u2019s response to the allegations he\u2019s being investigated seems to reflect a broader effort to remain in the national spotlight after leaving the governor\u2019s office and to build a persecution narrative that has energized voters on both sides of the political aisle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNewsom is a supersmart politician who understands when he\u2019s been given a gift, which Trump, stupidly, considers a threat that will sully Newsom\u2019s reputation,\u201d veteran political expert Garry South told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cTo be singled out among the potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates just elevates Newsom among the possible contenders, and telegraphs to Democrats across the country that Trump and his MAGAts consider Newsom the leading threat to take back the White House in \u201828. Totally counterproductive on Trump\u2019s part, but when has he ever been capable of considering the boomerang effect of his impulsive and vengeful actions?\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a video posted on social media Monday, Newsom claimed that Trump \u201cisn\u2019t just coming after me because of my mean tweets.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe\u2019s coming after me because I\u2019m considering running for president,\u201d he added. \u201cTo get me, he\u2019s coming after my wife. You can subpoena my records. You can investigate me. You can harass me, put my name on every and any enemies list you have, but leave my wife and family out of your personal vendetta.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A source familiar with the investigations told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that there were at least two inquiries involving individuals close to Newsom, including one concerning Sibel Newsom\u2019s tax activities and another involving Dana Williamson, the governor\u2019s former chief of staff, who was also a political adviser to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/xavier-becerra\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1719\">Xavier Becerra<\/a>, the Democratic candidate vying for Newsom\u2019s seat. The investigations have been going on for more than a year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Williamson pleaded guilty last month to three felony counts in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bob-menendez-charged-with-obstruction-of-justice-in-sprawling-corruption-case\/\" title=\"Bob Menendez faces obstruction of ... charges in a wide-ranging corruption ...\">wide-ranging corruption case<\/a>. She is central to a major political and financial scandal and was indicted on 23 federal counts and ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, subscribing to false tax returns, and lying to federal agents.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the felony charges Williamson admitted to involved lying to the FBI about information she obtained while working in Newsom\u2019s office. In her plea agreement, she acknowledged sharing confidential details about a state lawsuit with a former business associate whose client was connected to the case, then misleading investigators when they questioned her about it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The client is not identified in court documents, but the facts outlined in the case appear to correspond to California\u2019s 2021 lawsuit against video game company Activision Blizzard. Before joining the Newsom administration, Williamson\u2019s consulting firm had worked for the company.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The lawsuit drew additional attention in 2022 when Newsom removed the attorney leading the case, prompting criticism from some who argued the administration was interfering in the litigation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4609334\/gavin-newsom-trump-doj-investigation-wife\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4609334\"><strong>GAVIN NEWSOM CLAIMS TRUMP DIRECTED DOJ TO INVESTIGATE HIM AND HIS WIFE <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After Williamson was indicted last year, her attorney said federal investigators first contacted her during the Biden administration while she was still serving in Newsom\u2019s office. According to her lawyer, agents asked whether she would assist in an investigation involving the governor. Williamson responded that she had no information to offer and had never witnessed Newsom engage in criminal conduct. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Newsom has cast the investigation as evidence that the main Justice Department is \u201ccoming after\u201d him, questions remain about that characterization. A source familiar with the investigations said they were not directed by the Department of Justice headquarters and are understood to have originated from whistleblowers and sources within California\u2019s state government who communicated with local federal prosecutors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Political strategist James Christopher told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that while it was smart of Newsom to \u201crecognize that conflict with Trump can create instant national visibility,\u201d he warned Democrats have to be careful about Trump fatigue among voters who want a forward-looking agenda.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTrump has spent decades massaging the media and pulling opponents into his vacuum, and Newsom must stay savvy,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is walking a tightrope by using the bully pulpit as a governor and national Democratic figure without allowing Trump to define the terms of his 2028 identity. Turning this into a Trump-versus-Newsom showdown may elevate him in the short term, but the larger test is whether Newsom can convert that attention into a substantive case for leadership beyond opposition to Trump. If Newsom lets every controversy become a proxy war with Trump, he risks looking reactive rather than presidential.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The Washington Examiner\u2019s Kaelan Deese contributed to this article. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Newsom claims DOJ investigates him to challenge Trump<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2614680,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26134689023440-e1781625719709.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[11331,7076,3728,3678,5894],"class_list":["post-2614679","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-11331","tag-doj","tag-election","tag-newsom","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26134689023440-e1781625719709.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614679","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2614679"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614679\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2614683,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614679\/revisions\/2614683"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2614680"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2614679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2614679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2614679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}