California Attorney General Accuses Trump of DOJ Weaponization
California Attorney General Rob Bonta supported Governor Gavin Newsom’s claims concerning the Justice Department. He accused the Trump administration of using the DOJ for political ends after reports emerged that the federal investigation into Newsom and his wife began in California, not in Washington, D.C.
Bonta expressed distrust towards the investigation, saying, “I know what I’ve concluded is that this is highly dubious — there’s no trust in it.” He added, “This is someone who’s weaponized the U.S. DOJ time and time again. I think he’s doing it now.”
On Monday, Newsom publicly revealed that he and his wife, Jen Siebel Newsom, are being investigated by the DOJ. He alleged that President Donald Trump directed the DOJ to target them, claiming they’ve been added to “Donald Trump’s hit list.”
Political Context and Allegations
Newsom, who has been speculated as a strong contender for the 2028 presidential election, is notably the governor of California, a key state in U.S. politics. Bonta pointed out that this context could be creating political motivations, “Newsom is the governor for the biggest state, the bluest state in the nation, the fourth largest economy in the world. Everyone knows that he could be president of the United States. So you put that situational awareness and context into this, and what do you conclude?”
Bonta accused Trump of transforming the DOJ from a law enforcement entity into a tool of “political persecutions against political enemies.” He mentioned former Attorney General Pam Bondi as part of this alleged strategy.
Bonta further commented on Trump’s actions, stating, “If that doesn’t destroy trust and make you doubt the intent behind this probe, I don’t know what else I can tell you.” He referenced ongoing allegations against known political figures, including “shifty Schiff,” an apparent nod to Senator Adam Schiff.
Origin and Background of Investigation
Insider sources relayed to Fox News that this investigation began based on whistleblower complaints linked to the personal finances of the Newsoms. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento oversees this case. These insiders also affirmed that the opening of the probe had no direct involvement from Washington, according to the Associated Press.
An unrelated investigation initiated during President Joe Biden’s tenure led to corruption charges against Dana Williamson, Newsom’s former chief of staff. She admitted to lying about sharing internal data with an associate, though Newsom was not directly implicated.
Newsom’s office expressed concerns that the Trump administration’s federal investigators broadened the probe’s focus to include Governor Newsom. In response, the Governor’s office filed a public records request to have access to DOJ documents referencing Newsom or his wife during Trump’s second term.