The Gavin Newsom probe is serious, and he knows it
Gavin Newsom and his “press office” aides-gone-wild have been trying to mock President Donald Trump on social media for more than a year — regardless of the consequences for state-federal relations.
But he can’t laugh off the US Department of Justice probe into his family’s finances.
And while Newsom claims the investigation is politically motivated, he knows it is serious.
That’s why he and his inner circle are reportedly starting to worry.
Newsom knows the investigations go back to the Biden administration.
His former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, pleaded guilty last month in federal court in Sacramento to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud.
Among other misdeeds, she and her co-conspirators stole money from the dormant state campaign account of Xavier Becerra, a left-wing Democrat who is now the favorite to succeed Newsom as governor.
Becerra has denied any knowledge of the crime; indeed, he claims he is a victim.
But part of the alleged scheme involved using Becerra’s campaign money to supplement the salary of his own chief of staff when he was Biden’s secretary of Health and Human Services.
How could these shenanigans go on under Newsom’s nose?
Part of the answer is that Sacramento has a long history of tolerating corruption, thanks to one-party rule, the passive media, and a culture of mutual back-scratching.
For example, Democrat Darrell Steinberg presided over the state Senate at a time when several members were indicted and convicted for various crimes.
After failing to clean up that legislative body, he became a lobbyist, then ran for mayor of Sacramento — and won, serving until 2024.
Newsom likewise escaped political consequences when he won a recall election in 2021 that was held after he hobnobbed, maskless, with lobbyists in the elite French Laundry restaurant in Napa during the coronavirus pandemic — after telling restaurants in the rest of the state to close down.
His now-infamous dinner speaks to poor ethical and political judgment, but also to the fact that Democrats in Sacramento fear no consequences for their actions.
Newsom also raised hundreds of millions of dollars for “charity” through “behested payments” in which he asked donors to contribute to nonprofit organizations of his choice.
Though legal in California, these payments often suggest glaring conflicts of interest.
Some of the recipients have business before the state. One recipient organization was founded by his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
It looks bad — yet it continues because Newsom and his party don’t believe anyone will hold them accountable.
And they were right. Until now.
Newsom has coasted for most of his career, aside from personal scandals as mayor of San Francisco. His path to lieutenant governor was an easy one. And for eight years, he was Jerry Brown’s heir apparent.
That is a long time to be in office, and it is a lot of power.
Newsom was happy to see federal prosecutors chase Trump and his associates for “Russia collusion” that never happened.
Now that he faces real questions, he’s lawyering up. As he should.