Newsom Accuses Trump of Weaponizing Department of Justice Against Him

-Editorial 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that his administration has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking records from the U.S. Department of Justice related to a federal investigation involving the governor, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and individuals associated with their family.

The request seeks communications involving senior Justice Department officials, including emails, text messages, memoranda, and Signal messages that reference Newsom or Siebel Newsom. According to the governor’s office, the records requested cover the period from Jan. 20, 2025, to the present.

The governor’s office said the request was filed after Newsom learned of what he described as an ongoing federal investigation that has expanded beyond the governor to include inquiries involving his wife and other individuals connected to his family and administration.

Newsom alleged that federal agents have recently contacted family friends and former employees and requested records as part of the investigation. He said authorities have been reviewing documents spanning multiple years and using grand jury procedures to obtain information.

In a statement released Monday, Newsom characterized the inquiry as politically motivated and accused President Donald Trump of directing federal authorities to investigate him following public criticism and political disagreements between the two leaders.

“Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has been conducting a fishing expedition in search of a crime that does not exist,” Newsom said in a statement released by his office. “The American people deserve to know who ordered this abuse of power and how far it goes.”

The Freedom of Information Act request seeks records involving current and former senior Justice Department officials, including former Attorney General Pam Bondi, former Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, and former Deputy Attorney General and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. The governor’s office said it is requesting that the Justice Department comply with federal requirements governing responses to FOIA requests and release all nonexempt records.

Newsom used a separate public statement to accuse the Trump administration of using federal law enforcement agencies to target political opponents. He cited previous federal inquiries involving other public officials and individuals who have publicly criticized the president.

“In recent days, federal agents have knocked on the doors of family friends and former employees. Not because they found a crime. Because they are simply trying to find one,” he said. He also said investigators were “demanding records” and “abusing the grand jury process,” and that they were reviewing documents spanning multiple years.

Newsom said he believes the investigation is politically motivated and linked to his criticism of President Donald Trump and speculation about a possible future presidential campaign. 

“Donald Trump isn’t just coming after me because of my mean Tweets,” he said. “He’s coming after me because I am considering running for President.” He also said the investigation reflects retaliation for his public criticism of the president.

In his remarks, Newsom further alleged misconduct by the Trump administration and raised broader concerns about the use of federal authority. “Donald Trump is simply the most corrupt President in American history,” he said. He added that federal institutions were being used for political purposes and said, “This is the behavior of a regime, not a republic,” while asserting that he and his family had done nothing wrong.