NEW: DOJ Files Subpoenas As Part Of Investigation Into California Gov. Gavin Newsom

Federal prosecutors in California’s Eastern District issued subpoenas earlier this month seeking six years of records from the California State Protocol Foundation as part of a criminal investigation involving Governor Gavin Newsom.

The documents, which were reviewed by the San Francisco Standard, request information on the foundation’s donors and fundraisers, Newsom’s international travel and events, and any funds used for the governor’s residence, living costs, or personal expenses. They also seek communications involving Newsom, current and former aides including chief protocol officer Rebecca Prowda, and foundation board members.

The subpoenas, which were signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Anderson, state that the records are for use in a pending criminal investigation in the Eastern District of California and will be presented to a grand jury. Prowda, who oversees Newsom’s overseas travel, is married to San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. Board members named in reporting include longtime Newsom associates such as Steve Kawa and Jason Elliott.

POLL: Should Ilhan Omar Be Deported If Found Guilty Of Immigration Fraud?

Feds probe Gov. Gavin Newsom's travel, personal spending as new details of DOJ probe revealed https://t.co/0D1wsZp7TW pic.twitter.com/nudfbJR476

— New York Post (@nypost) September 12, 2026

This step follows Newsom’s June 15, 2026, public statement that he and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom were under Department of Justice scrutiny. Newsom said federal agents had contacted family members, friends, and former employees and described the activity as an effort to identify potential offenses rather than a response to identified crimes.

Sources familiar with the matter told multiple outlets that investigations involving Newsom’s circle have been underway for roughly a year, which originated from whistleblower complaints handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento rather than directives from Washington. The Justice Department has declined to comment on the existence of the probe.

One focus has been Siebel Newsom’s tax filings and nonprofits connected to the couple, including the California Partners Project.

The Protocol Foundation, created in 2001, uses private donations to cover certain gubernatorial travel, hosting, and protocol costs that would otherwise fall to taxpayers. Since 2019 Newsom has directed more than $7.5 million in outside contributions to the foundation, with about $5.1 million coming from leftover inaugural funds. The foundation has also covered other items such as travel-related expenses.

Donors have included companies and groups with interests before state government.

California law permits elected officials to solicit “behested payments”—donations to charitable or governmental causes that must be disclosed above set thresholds. Newsom has reported hundreds of millions of dollars in such payments to various organizations since taking office. Some reporting has described the overlap between donors to Newsom-linked nonprofits and entities with business before the state as raising questions of influence, sometimes labeled pay-to-play.

The payments themselves are legal when properly disclosed. Newsom has previously been fined by the state Fair Political Practices Commission for late reporting of certain behested payments.

A related case involved Dana Williamson, Newsom’s former chief of staff, who pleaded guilty in May 2026 to conspiracy to commit fraud, filing a false tax return, and making false statements in a scheme involving diverted campaign funds. Charging documents did not name Newsom, and his office has said he cooperated with that inquiry, which began earlier.

RELATED: Leading University Actively Discriminates Against White, Asian Applicants, DOJ Finds