California Gov. Gavin Newsom is criticizing the federal government's latest escalation in targeting him by investigating his administration's international travel and the donations that helped fund these trips.
The San Francisco Standard first reported the issue, reviewing several subpoenas the federal government issued in early September seeking records from the California State Protocol Foundation, a nonprofit organization that pays for Newsom's travel expenses through corporate and private charitable donations.
Additionally, the subpoenas requested testimony and communications between Newsom and his current and former aides, advisers, and associates, according to the San Francisco Standard.
This is the latest move in the administration's criminal
investigation against the governor and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, which Newsom publicly denounced in June. Newsom accused the administration of directing the Department of Justice to find evidence of an unspecified crime.
In June, Newsom highlighted that federal agents had investigated several people associated with the governor and his wife, noting that they had subpoenaed records and conducted interviews spanning years of personal and professional activity, according to the governor's office.
The subpoenas in September were the latest move in what Newsom calls a "baseless MAGA conspiracy theory," according to Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for Newsom's office in a statement to USA TODAY.
“Governor Newsom went after the king — and as he warned in June, the tyrant is now coming after everyone around him. This is what Donald Trump does to his enemies: investigate first, hunt for a crime that doesn’t exist second,” Gallegos statement reads.
"It’s deeply upsetting to see innocent staff, friends, and family have their names dragged through the mud just because they’re associated with the Governor.”
This investigation comes as Newsom's tenure as governor nears its end and speculation grows that he is preparingfor a potential 2028 presidential bid, as he is seen as a likely frontrunner in the upcoming election.
According to the San Francisco Standard, the subpoenas request records and information for an ongoing criminal inquiry and were signed by Michael D. Anderson, assistant U.S. Attorney and chief of the Criminal Division for the Eastern District of California.
Notably, the lists contained prominent names like Rebecca Prowda, Newsom's director of protocol and the wife of San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, and Steve Kawa, who was appointed as Chief Technology Officer of the California High Speed Rail Authority earlier this year and previously served as the San Francisco Mayor's chief of staff during Edwin Lee and Newsom's terms, according to the San Francisco Standard.
Public records also show Kawa previously served as Chief and Director of the California State Protocol Foundation.
“We are not able to discuss any investigations at present, but the Protocol Foundation will continue its work, defraying costs from taxpayers while representing all Californians,” said Lily Becker, an attorney who provided a statement on behalf of the foundation to the Los Angeles Times.
Although the Trump administration is currently investigating the California State Protocol Foundation, the nonprofit has a long history of privately covering travel expenses for the Governor’s Office to ensure taxpayers do not pay these costs.
The foundation was originally established in 2002 as the Golden State Host Foundation by then-Governor Gray Davis, then renamed the California State Protocol Foundation in 2004 under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The foundation reports donations to the federal government and publishes them in a searchable database.
According to public records, the foundation helped fund several trips during his tenure. Notably, in 2024, Newsom expensed $248,758 in travel costs for a visit to the Vatican Climate Summit and the inauguration of the President of Mexico.
"There is no crime here. There is just a sick man in the White House weaponizing the federal government to settle personal scores. It’s deeply upsetting to see innocent staff, friends, and family have their names dragged through the mud just because they’re associated with the Governor," Gallegos statement reads.
Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at npadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow us on Facebook at TODAY Californian.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Newsom calls DOJ probe into travel costs a 'baseless MAGA conspiracy'
