California Governor Gavin Newsom's team is advising congressional Democrats to characterize the Justice Department's investigation into him as politically motivated, according to a messaging memo obtained by Axios. The memo suggests that the investigation is an attempt by former President Trump to undermine Newsom's potential presidential ambitions. Newsom claimed in a video that federal agents have questioned associates and former employees not in pursuit of a crime, but rather to find one. He stated, 'Donald Trump isn't just coming after me because of my mean tweets. He's coming after me because I'm considering running for president.'
A source familiar with the investigation indicated that it originated from whistleblowers and local sources in California, not from Trump or DOJ officials. The investigation reportedly includes probes into individuals connected to Newsom, including his wife, Jen Siebel Newsom, and former chief of staff Dana Williamson, who recently pleaded guilty to multiple charges. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California is said to have been investigating for about a year. The memo also includes suggested responses to questions about the investigation, emphasizing a lack of credible evidence of illegal conduct by Newsom.