Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California’s First Partner and founder of a nonprofit focused on gender equity in media, faces a Department of Justice probe into her taxes and nonprofits connected to her and Governor Gavin Newsom, according to sources familiar with the investigation announced this week.
The investigation began roughly one year ago, originating from whistleblower complaints submitted to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento, according to the Sacramento Bee. Federal investigators have contacted dozens of the couple’s employees and associates over the past week, with the probe involving both witness interviews and grand jury subpoenas.
Siebel Newsom founded The Representation Project in 2011, a nonprofit focused on gender equity in media and filmmaking. According to tax filings, she received $161,250 in annual salary from the organization as founder and chief creative officer. The nonprofit separately paid her production company, Girls Club Entertainment, an identical amount for contracting work, according to the Sacramento Bee. In total, Siebel Newsom earned roughly $3 million in salary and licensing fees since 2015.
The Representation Project has received donations from major corporations that do business with California. A 2021 Sacramento Bee investigation found more than $800,000 in direct donations to the nonprofit from companies including PG&E, AT&T, and Kaiser Permanente. Governor Newsom has also solicited donations for another nonprofit, California Partners Project, which his wife serves on the board of—raising more than $4.8 million since 2020, according to the Sacramento Bee.
The investigation parallels a separate federal case involving Dana Williamson, Newsom’s former chief of staff. Williamson pleaded guilty in May 2026 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, wire fraud, and making false statements to federal agents, according to CNN. She faced charges related to allegedly funneling money from a dormant campaign account. That investigation began in 2022 under the Biden administration but intensified after Todd Blanche became acting head of the DOJ.
Governor Newsom has characterized the investigation as politically motivated. In a video statement posted Monday, he claimed the White House is “abusing the grand jury process” to target him and his wife, alleging the probe was directed by President Donald Trump. Newsom cited his potential 2028 presidential run and his criticism of Trump as motivation, and noted that other Democratic opponents have faced DOJ scrutiny under the Trump administration. Siebel Newsom said in a statement that “there are clearly no boundaries to what Donald Trump will do to get his way.”
A person familiar with the probe told CNN that the investigation was launched by the Sacramento U.S. Attorney’s Office based on whistleblower reports, and that the leadership of DOJ headquarters in Washington was not involved in opening the probe. Federal prosecutors and the White House declined to comment on the specifics of the investigation.
Sources
- Sacramento Bee — Core details on the investigation’s focus, timeline, scope, and the Newsoms’ nonprofit finances
- CNN — Confirmation of the investigation, Dana Williamson case details, and DOJ leadership statements
- Reuters — Details on the investigation involving Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the California Partners Project donations
