Trump DOJ Investigating California’s First Couple: Remember Shady Multi-Million Dollar Home Deals & $203K Cabo Vaca?

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced today on X that the U.S. Department of Justice under President Trump is investigating he and his wife, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.

“Today, my wife & I joined Donald Trump’s hit list. He has directed his Department of Justice to investigate us. They have not found a crime – they are simply trying to find one. He isn’t coming after me because of mean tweets, but because I am considering running for President. He hates that I consistently call him out. He is simply the most corrupt President in American history. We have nothing to hide. Mr. President, come after me. I am not going anywhere.  The country is watching.”

Today, my wife & I joined Donald Trump’s hit list. He has directed his Department of Justice to investigate us. They have not found a crime – they are simply trying to find one.

He isn't coming after me because of mean tweets, but because I am considering running for President.… pic.twitter.com/tVYk3WUvO8

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 15, 2026

After covering the Newsoms for many years, I suspect there’s a lot of ‘there’ there.

Globe Executive Editor Megan Barth reported earlier today on the long list of dubious financial dealings by California’s first couple. “The Globe’s reporting has consistently highlighted how vendors and donors connected to the Newsom orbit have profited handsomely while the First Partner’s nonprofit extracted millions through salaries and licensing fees from an organization she controls.”

The Globe has reported on many questionable personal financial issues with the Newsoms, including their two large mansions, secretively purchased by shady LLCs only days before closing. Where did the money come from? Who is the LLC? The $3.7 million mansion in Sacramento magically appeared for the Newsoms shortly after his election, despite the renovation of the California Governor’s mansion costing taxpayers $4.1 million to $4.6 million by Newsom’s predecessor Gov. Jerry Brown.

In 2018–2019, an LLC tied to Newsom’s cousin, business partner, and PlumpJack Co-President Jeremy Scherer paid $3.7 million in cash for a Fair Oaks estate in Sacramento in December 2018. In October 2019, the LLC “gifted” the home to the Newsoms free and clear, claiming Newsom was a member of the LLC in order to avoid roughly $4,000 in transfer taxes. The Newsoms reportedly spend several nights a week at the estate.

In January 2020, the Newsoms received $2.7 million tax-free when they obtained a cash-out refinance, Jen Van Laar reported at Redstate.

Since the Newsoms didn’t buy their 12,000-square-foot $3.7 million in Fair Oaks mansion, they probably had a little left over from the $5.9 million sale of their Marin home, the Globe wondered at the time. But, according to Van Laar, that home was mortgaged to the hilt. And, Newsom’s financial disclosure forms don’t mention the LLC or the gifts, which far exceed the $500 threshold.

It’s stunning that this was done under the nose of California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), who regularly investigate and fine politicians for ethics and campaign violations, and whose mission says it “regulates campaign financing, conflicts of interest, lobbying, and governmental ethics. The Commission’s objectives are to ensure that public officials act in a fair and unbiased manner in the governmental decision-making process, to promote transparency in government, and to foster public trust in the political system.”

Meh.

Then in 2024, Governor Newsom and the “First Partner” purchased a $9.1 million home back in Marin County. The Marin mansion is 5,600 square feet, with Newsoms paying 7% above the asking price.

How much income it takes to purchase a $9 million home?

A buyer would need to make an annual income of nearly $2 million to qualify for a $9 million dollar house if purchased on a 30-year mortgage. The monthly payments would roughly be $56,464.75 at today’s current interest rates.

But, if the home was purchased in cash, the buyer is likely a rock star, professional athlete, hedge fund manager, big Hollywood movie producer or a drug dealer–not a “public servant” like Governor Newsom or his wife (as he claims in his public statements).

The governor earns $211,462.56 from the State of California, and receives $94,715.85 in “benefits” for a grand total of $306,178.41, Transparent California reports.

Newsom has held public office since 1996, when San Francisco mayor Willie Brown appointed him to the city’s Parking and Traffic Commission. For 30 years, Newsom has been a “public servant.”

The Newsoms now have two multi-million-dollar homes that don’t seem to belong to them. If they don’t, who owns them? Who is investing so heavily in Gavin Newsom? Who is funding this rock-star “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” for the Newsoms–and what do they expect in return?

That’s just their personal real estate portfolio.

The Globe broke the story about the Newsom family trip to Cabo San Lucas in 2021 during the governor’s statewide Covid lockdowns. They stayed at a $23,000 to $29,000 per night villa, La Datcha Cabo San Lucas villa, owned by Russian entrepreneur and businessman Oleg Tinkov. The Globe’s sources said that from their rental they could see the 10,000 to 12,000 square foot villa that came with two chefs, four to five servers, personal trainers, and the like.

The Globe received several photos and a now-removed Tweet from sources who were in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur over Thanksgiving 2021, at the same time Newsom and his family vacationed.

In November 2021, Newsom had just extended California’s COVID State of Emergency into its second year and ordered all students ages 5-11 to receive vaccinations in order to attend in-person school. Mask mandates and vaccine requirements were also still in place.

At $29,000 per night for the holiday rate, did Gov. Newsom pay for the luxury villa? If not, who picked up the tab for the $203,000 week-long stay at La Datcha Cabo San Lucas vacation villa for the Newsoms? Was it a gift?

The Globe contacted the governor’s press office in 2021 and asked whether the governor paid for his vacation villa himself, and if not, who did?

We heard back from the governor’s press secretary who replied, “This was a personal trip paid for by the family.” Ok. But, what family?

The Globe had no reason to doubt the word of the press secretary. But “by the family” is an intriguingly crafted answer, especially when Newsom’s family members include prominent Californians whose surnames are Brown, Pelosi and Getty.

The Globe replied to the press secretary, “Thank you for your reply Erin. What family paid for this?”

After the article published, Newsom’s Press Secretary Erin Mellon emailed and said, “The Newsom family.”

She then called the Globe and said “the Newsom family” paid for the villa in Cabo. We asked “What Newsoms?” She finally said, “The governor… paid for it for a personal trip.”

Gavin Newsom paid $203,000 for a vacation when he made $209,747 in 2020 as governor? No one bought that then– or now.

The DOJ is investigating all kinds of fraud in California. Governor Newsom and his administration should welcome the DOJ investigations – even if they hit closer to “his” multiple mansions.