Acting AG Todd Blanche says Newsom's DOJ claims are not 'grounded in fact'

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rejected claims by California Governor Gavin Newsom that the U.S. Department of Justice is targeting him at the behest of President Donald Trump ahead of a potential 2028 bid. Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Blanche said Newsom’s assertions were not “grounded in fact,” and declined to comment on any ongoing investigations. Newsom, who said June 15 that the DOJ was investigating him and his wife, described the inquiry as a politically motivated “fishing expedition” intended to undermine a possible White House campaign, adding that “To get me, he’s coming after my wife.” Blanche also countered Newsom’s broader framing, saying the governor can say what he thinks helps him but “it doesn’t make it true.” Reporting referenced sources indicating the investigation has been ongoing since 2025, linked to whistleblower complaints about the couple’s personal finances, handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento. Federal sources confirmed investigations involving Jennifer Siebel Newsom, but the DOJ had not publicly confirmed any case directly targeting the governor, at the time described.