Newsom's political defense faces skepticism as DOJ investigation continues
California governor's political motivation claim fails to address behested payments, California Post opinion editor says
Joel Pollak on Newsom probe: We don't know if these investigations are politically motivated or not
California Post opinion editor Joel Pollak discusses the Department of Justice's investigation into California Gov. Gavin Newsom's finances.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is blaming politics for a Department of Justice investigation into his and his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom's finances, but one critic says that explanation does little to address the conduct that drew federal scrutiny in the first place.
"We don't know whether these investigations are politically motivated or not," California Post opinion editor Joel Pollak told FOX Business.
"It didn't help John Bolton when he said that the investigation into his misuse of classified information was politically motivated. He just recently pleaded guilty, so that doesn't actually explain whether Newsom is guilty or not."
Pollak said the controversy extends beyond charitable donations and centers on so-called "behested payments" — contributions solicited by elected officials for causes or organizations they support.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom looks on during a bill signing event related to redrawing the state’s congressional maps on Aug. 21, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
In Newsom's case, Pollak noted that some of the payments were directed to organizations linked to Newsom's wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
"It wasn't just charitable donations," Pollak said.
"He was fined for failing to report what are called behested payments... and if Newsom were being honest with the voters of California, he would come clean about what these behested payments are, instead of waiting until beyond the deadline to account for them," he added.
Pollak argued that the arrangement creates the appearance that donors could receive favorable treatment from the governor.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, attend a black-tie dinner for US governors and their spouses following the National Governors Association meetings in Washington, D.C., Feb. 24, 2024. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
The governor has accused the Trump Department of Justice's investigation of being politically motivated and linked it to his expected 2028 presidential run.
"After calling for my arrest last year, Donald Trump directed his Department of Justice to investigate me," Newsom said in a video statement. "And just in the last week, I’ve learned his campaign has reached my own home: to get me, he’s coming after my wife, Jen."
In a statement to Fox News, Jennifer Siebel Newsom blasted the Trump administration for the alleged overreach.
"There are clearly no boundaries to what Donald Trump will do to get his way or to challenge those who get in his way. This is not presidential behavior, and the Governor and I will continue to speak truth to power because the American people deserve so much more," she said.
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Joe Concha raises integrity questions into Newsom amid DOJ investigation: ‘Smells bad’
Fox News host Lara Trump and contributor Joe Concha assess the federal investigation into California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his wife on ‘The Evening Edit.’
The California governor's office previously referred Fox News Digital to a fact sheet claiming that federal investigators spent months trying to indict Newsom and, upon failing, widened their search for criminal activity. The fact sheet also asserts that federal agents have subpoenaed records and conducted interviews covering years of activity.
Sources familiar with the matter told Fox News that the investigation has been ongoing since 2025 and that the probe is based on whistleblower complaints related to Newsom and his wife's personal finances. The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Sacramento.
Fox News Digital's Bonny Chu and Robert Schmad contributed to this report.
