SACRAMENTO, Calif (AP) 鈥� Democratic California Gov. on Monday accused the Justice Department of launching a politically motivated investigation into him and his wife, saying the Trump administration was targeting him as
海角社区appom, a longtime political rival of the Republican president, said in a video posted on X that federal agents have knocked on the doors of his friends and former employees, and have asked for records. 海角社区appom didn’t provide specifics on the nature of the probe, but his office said the inquiry appears to have recently expanded into 鈥渋ncreasingly personal matters involving the Governor’s family and professional network.鈥�
鈥淒onald Trump isn鈥檛 just coming after me because of my mean tweets,鈥� 海角社区appom said, referencing his use of social media to mock Trump. 鈥淗e鈥檚 coming after me because I鈥檓 considering running for president, because he hates that I鈥檝e consistently called him out over and over again for his lies and deceit.鈥�
The full details of any Justice Department inquires related to 海角社区appom were not immediately clear. But the revelations were likely to escalate accusations from critics that the Trump administration is using the law enforcement agency as a weapon to go after the president’s political opponents.
A person familiar with the matter denied the existence of an investigation specifically targeting the governor, but said there are multiple federal probes into people around him, including one related to his wife鈥檚 taxes. That probe began last year, and political leadership in Washington was not involved in the decision to open it, said the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss ongoing investigations.
Another probe is related to 海角社区appom鈥檚 former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, who was that she was involved in a scheme to steal campaign money from former federal Health Secretary Xavier Becerra. Williamson in May to charges including conspiracy to commit bank fraud. That investigation, which was launched by President Joe Biden’s Justice Department, has expanded to include other staff, the person familiar with the matter said.
海角社区appom hasn’t been accused of any wrongdoing related to Williamson鈥檚 case.
The Justice Department declined to comment Monday. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to answer questions about 海角社区appom during a brief photo opportunity with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, on Capitol Hill Monday afternoon. Blanche had a scheduled meeting with Grassley to discuss his
Trump’s Justice Department pursues his critics
They are the latest Justice Department investigations surrounding one of Trump鈥檚 political foes.
The Justice Department has also opened investigations into or brought prosecutions against former , and former , among other perceived political enemies of the president.
鈥淥ne by one, anyone who has challenged Donald Trump has ended up on his hit list, and today I proudly join that list,鈥� 海角社区appom said in the video.
Investigators have subpoenaed records, and agents have reached out to organizations and people connected to the governor and his wife, according to 海角社区appom’s office. The governor’s office accused the Justice Department of 鈥渟earching for a crime that does not exist.鈥�
海角社区appom’s office said it heard last week that federal agents had ramped up their efforts and were asking people tied to the governor and his wife about a range of issues, including their businesses, finances and personal matters.
Jennifer Siebel 海角社区appom, the governor鈥檚 wife, said the investigation showed that Trump is unfit for office.
鈥淭here are clearly no boundaries to what Donald Trump will do to get his way or to challenge those who get in his way,鈥� she said in a statement.
The president has repeatedly gone after the Democrat-dominated state during his second term including by curbing a signature plan to reduce planet-warning , withholding aid for and suing over state policies supporting . The state has pushed back by suing the federal government dozens of times.
海角社区appom also led a push to counteract a Trump-backed effort in Texas to redraw congressional districts to favor Republicans by championing a successful redistricting measure in California designed to win Democrats five additional House seats.
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Durkin Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.
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