California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Monday that President Donald Trump has ordered the Department of Justice to open an investigation into him and his wife.
In a written statement, Newsom said that investigators have not identified any criminal conduct but that they are attempting to uncover wrongdoing. He framed the inquiry as politically driven and connected it to his public criticisms of the president and his consideration of a presidential campaign.
Newsom was direct in his remarks about the motivation behind the probe. "He isn’t coming after me because of mean tweets, but because I am considering running for President," he said. "He hates that I consistently call him out."
The governor also leveled a broader charge against the president, calling him "the most corrupt President in American history" and insisting that he and his wife have nothing to hide. "Mr. President, come after me. I am not going anywhere. The country is watching," Newsom added.
Newsom tied the investigation explicitly to two points he has made publicly: his possible candidacy for the presidency and his repeated criticism of Trump. Beyond those statements, the governor said investigators have not produced evidence of criminal behavior, according to his account.
This account leaves key procedural details unspecified in the governor's statement. The statement as reported does not outline what form the Justice Department inquiry will take, what aspects of Newsom's or his wife's affairs are being examined, or what timeline the investigators are following. The governor's comments focus on the motive he attributes to the action rather than on specific allegations or evidence.
As described in his statement, Newsom framed the situation as a politically motivated move linked to the broader national debate over his role and rhetoric. He urged the public to take note of the development and positioned himself as defiant in the face of the investigation.
Key takeaways:
- Governor Newsom said President Trump directed the Department of Justice to investigate him and his wife.
- Newsom stated investigators have not identified criminal activity but are searching for wrongdoing and called the probe politically motivated.
- Newsom connected the investigation to his possible presidential run and his public criticism of Trump.
Notable uncertainties and risks:
- The governor reported that no criminal activity has been identified so far; the details of what investigators are examining remain unspecified in his statement.
- Newsom characterized the investigation as politically motivated, a claim that reflects his perspective but does not provide independent evidence about the investigation's origins or purpose.
- The statement does not disclose procedural details such as the scope, timeline, or specific allegations under review by the Department of Justice.