California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed frustration Thursday when questioned about his failure to release his tax returns since 2020, deflecting criticism towards President Trump and labeling the federal investigations into him and his wife as a politically motivated "witch hunt."
Newsom, who has positioned himself as a prominent critic of Trump, was asked during a news conference about updates on his tax filings and ongoing federal probes involving him, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, his staff, and associates. He pivoted the conversation by asking, "Donald Trump, when has he released them?"
Previous reports indicated that investigators were examining Siebel Newsom's taxes, as well as matters connected to Newsom's former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, who has pleaded guilty in a federal corruption case. Newsom stated that he had previously released his taxes for decades and expressed no reason why recent filings had not been made available.
Despite a consistent pledge to release his tax returns annually while in office, Newsom has not publicly disclosed filings beyond those for tax year 2020. He has not released any further tax documents since 2022.
Newsom spoke at Robert E. Willett Elementary School in Davis to highlight his education budget. He declined to offer further specifics on individuals in his circle contacted by federal investigators. "It says everything you need to know about the United States of America under Donald Trump, and so we continue to maintain vigilance as it relates to the just weaponization by the Department of Justice and other power ministries under the Trump administration," Newsom said, calling the situation "disgraceful."
He had previously announced the federal probes in a video, accusing the Trump administration of weaponizing law enforcement against him and his family, framing the announcement as a necessary public warning against "abuses of the most corrupt administration in American history."
The investigations coincide with Williamson's upcoming sentencing hearing in September for a federal corruption case. Williamson, who served as Newsom's chief of staff from 2022 to 2024, pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, subscribing to a false tax return, and lying to the FBI. According to a report, one of Newsom's appointees, lobbyist Alexis Podesta, wore a wire in the FBI's investigation into Williamson.
Newsom shifted the focus to Trump's finances, citing recent disclosures indicating Trump has earned at least $2 billion since returning to the White House. He referenced Trump's income and financial losses by investors in his meme coin, calling it "the great grift."
Newsom alleged that the federal scrutiny has compelled those around him to seek legal counsel and accused Trump of targeting his wife because he could not reach him directly. "Poor and innocent people getting knocks on the door first thing in the morning. I mean, to hire private attorneys — lives and reputation at risk for no other reason than they want to take me out," Newsom stated. "Going after my wife, doesn’t have the guts — he’s tried. … Couldn’t figure out how to get me. Now he’s trying to find anyone around us, that’s America, that’s abusive, it’s wrong."
He explained his decision to publicize the investigations, stating, "People need to know what’s going on, and there’s a certain point where it’s just: enough’s enough, and we absorbed a lot of it. And I said, ‘This is ridiculous,’ just going in 52 different directions again, because they were told, ‘find something.’"
Newsom offered limited details regarding his own Freedom of Information Act request about the federal investigation, stating he had not been privy to specific requests made to others and thus lacked direct knowledge.
The governor did not provide a specific date for the release of his overdue tax returns.