Federal investigators are reportedly expanding their scrutiny of California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, issuing subpoenas seeking years of financial records and communications involving a nonprofit that has helped bankroll the governor’s international travel and other expenses.

The development puts fresh attention on Newsom and his political operation as the California governor continues to be viewed as a potential contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.

According to documents reviewed by the San Francisco Standard, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California issued subpoenas in early September seeking roughly six years of records connected to the California State Protocol Foundation.

One subpoena reportedly states that the records are being sought as part of “a criminal investigation pending in the Eastern District of California.”

The subpoenas seek information involving the foundation’s donors and fundraisers, Newsom’s international travel and overseas appearances, as well as money potentially used for the governor’s residence, living expenses or other personal costs.

The subpoenas do not identify a specific alleged crime, and their issuance does not mean Newsom or anyone else has been accused of criminal wrongdoing. No charges have been announced against Newsom, his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, or anyone connected to the foundation in relation to the latest inquiry.

Newsom’s office has fiercely denied wrongdoing and accused President Donald Trump of weaponizing the Justice Department against a political opponent.

“Governor Newsom went after the king — and as he warned in June, the tyrant is now coming after everyone around him,” Newsom spokesperson Tara Gallegos said.

“This is what Donald Trump does to his enemies: investigate first, hunt for a crime that doesn’t exist second.”

But a source familiar with the matter previously told the Los Angeles Times that multiple federal inquiries involving individuals in Newsom’s orbit originated with information supplied by California whistleblowers rather than orders from Washington.

The latest subpoenas appear to bring the California State Protocol Foundation squarely into investigators’ sights.

Created in 2001, the nonprofit has been used by both Republican and Democratic administrations to finance official events, host foreign dignitaries and cover expenses associated with gubernatorial travel.

During Newsom’s tenure, the foundation has helped pay for trips to China, Mexico, Israel, the Vatican and El Salvador.

But questions have lingered over where the nonprofit’s money comes from and the potential interests of its donors.

According to the Standard’s review of state and federal records, more than $5 million raised through funds associated with Newsom’s 2019 and 2023 inaugurations was later transferred to the Protocol Foundation.

Some donors reportedly included companies, tribes and other organizations with business interests before California state government.

Newsom has also directed more than $7.5 million in outside contributions to the foundation since taking office in 2019, according to the report.

Federal investigators are now reportedly seeking communications involving several current and former members of Newsom’s inner circle.

Among them is Rebecca Prowda, Newsom’s chief protocol officer, who oversees the governor’s international travel and is married to San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie.

Investigators are also reportedly seeking communications involving former Newsom chief of staff Steve Kawa, former executive secretary Jim DeBoo, former deputy chief of staff Jason Elliott and other individuals connected to the foundation.

The expanded inquiry comes as another former member of Newsom’s inner circle faces separate legal trouble.

Former Newsom chief of staff Dana Williamson pleaded guilty in an unrelated federal corruption case that began during the Biden administration. That prosecution is separate from the investigation involving Newsom’s travel and the Protocol Foundation.

Newsom revealed in June that federal investigators were examining matters involving himself and his wife, immediately accusing the Trump administration of political retaliation.

Federal prosecutors have not publicly detailed the full scope of their investigation.

But the newly reported subpoenas provide the clearest indication yet of where investigators are looking: the millions of dollars flowing through a nonprofit that has financed expenses connected to one of the Democratic Party’s most prominent governors.

Whether that scrutiny ultimately produces charges remains unknown.

For Newsom, however, the federal investigation surrounding his political and government orbit appears to be getting wider — not going away.

Big League Politics