Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the ‘First Partner’ of Gov. Gavin Newsom, appeared confident as she defended herself and her husband against a federal investigation during a television interview.
But her confidence quickly waned when she was pressed with a question about when the Justice Department investigation actually began.
During an interview on Money, Power, Politics with MS NOW’s Stephanie Ruhle, Siebel Newsom briefly fell silent after Ruhle noted reports that the DOJ investigation into her and her husband’s finances actually began during former President Joe Biden’s administration rather than under President Donald Trump.
Before the exchange, Siebel Newsom had dismissed the investigation as politically motivated.
“I mean, this is typical Trump fashion. Go after your enemies,” she said. “You’d have to ask the DOJ.”
However, Ruhle followed up by asking whether it was true that the investigation actually began while Biden was still president.
“The Trump administration has been using the Department of Justice. It’s no surprise to launch investigations and prosecutions of people that the president sees as his political opponents,” Ruhle said.
“But is it true that this investigation started during the Biden administration?” she asked.
Siebel Newsom paused for roughly six seconds, blinking several times before responding.
“You know, I don’t know the details,” she said.
She then argued that Trump had targeted her husband long before returning to the White House.
“I do know that Trump was coming after my husband back when Biden was president,” she said.
“I thought it was ironic.”
Siebel Newsom continued to describe the investigation as “a fishing expedition” and suggested Republicans have long viewed her husband as a political threat because of speculation surrounding a possible 2028 presidential campaign.
“My husband is Trump’s most outspoken critic,” she said.
“They’ve always targeted my husband.”
She also argued that Republicans and conservative media believe Gov. Newsom intends to seek the presidency and are attempting to weaken him politically by investigating those closest to him.
Federal prosecutors in Sacramento opened an investigation last year involving former Newsom aide Dana Williamson during the Biden administration.
Williamson later pleaded guilty in May to fraud and other charges.
Gov. Newsom has not been charged with any crime, and public reporting has not alleged that he was implicated in Williamson’s guilty plea.
Later in the interview, Ruhle asked Siebel Newsom directly whether her husband is planning to run for president in 2028.
Rather than answering yes or no, she shifted the discussion to California’s accomplishments.
“I believe right now we are focused on California,” she said.
She pointed to initiatives involving women, children and economic growth before arguing that California’s diversity has helped make it one of the world’s largest economies.
“Diversity is our secret sauce,” she said.
“I guess in that regard, we’re a threat to the GOP.”
Siebel Newsom later accused Trump of targeting political opponents and claimed she and her husband are focused on “saving our democracy.”
Gov. Newsom has previously acknowledged that he would seriously consider a presidential campaign after the 2026 midterm elections.
In June, the governor publicly accused Trump of directing the Justice Department to investigate him and his wife for political reasons.
“Donald Trump isn’t just coming after me because of my mean Tweets,” Newsom said in a video statement.
“He’s coming after me because I am considering running for President.”
The Justice Department has not publicly stated that any investigation involving the Newsoms was ordered by Trump, and reports indicate at least part of the underlying federal inquiry began before Trump returned to office.
Siebel Newsom is a documentary filmmaker and founder of The Representation Project, a nonprofit organization focused on gender equality through media and education.
