California Governor Gavin Newsom has launched a blistering attack on the US Justice Department, alleging it is politically targeting his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and a former staff member. In a statement issued late Tuesday, Newsom claimed the department's actions amount to a 'weaponisation of the federal justice system' against his family and allies. The accusations come amid a federal investigation into Siebel Newsom's role in a coronavirus loan scheme and questions over a former staffer's business dealings.
Critics accuse Newsom of deflecting from the probes, but his office insists the governor is merely 'standing up to a politicised department'. The developments have deepened partisan tensions in Washington, with Newsom's supporters branding the investigations as a 'witch hunt'. Labour and civil rights groups have expressed concern over the perceived misuse of federal power, though the Justice Department has declined to comment on the specifics of the ongoing cases.
