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California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, have turned to Hunter Biden’s former attorney as federal investigators scrutinize financial and nonprofit matters involving the first partner, while a separate federal fraud case has ensnared the governor’s former chief of staff.
The hiring of prominent Washington defense lawyer Abbe Lowell — whose recent clients have included high-profile figures who have clashed with Trump, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and former President Joe Biden’s son — comes as Newsom dismisses the scrutiny as a politically motivated “fishing expedition” aimed at one of President Donald Trump’s most visible Democratic opponents. In a press conference Tuesday, the California governor confirmed he had obtained Lowell’s counsel.
Lowell, a veteran white-collar defense attorney who served as House Democrats’ chief minority counsel during former President Bill Clinton’s impeachment, has represented a bipartisan roster of political heavyweights over his decades-long career. His past clients include Hunter Biden, Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, former Democratic Sens. Bob Menendez and John Edwards, and an employee of longtime Trump ally Tom Barrack.
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More recently, Lowell has represented several prominent figures who say they have been targeted by the Trump administration, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, former Department of Homeland Security official Miles Taylor and whistleblower attorney Mark Zaid. Lowell did not respond to Fox News Digital’s questions in time for publication.
At least two criminal investigations connected to Newsom’s family and political orbit have been handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, according to CalMatters. Citing a Justice Department source familiar with the matter, the outlet reported that both originated with whistleblowers and people in Sacramento.
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One inquiry reportedly involves tax-related scrutiny involving Jennifer Siebel Newsom and financial arrangements connected to her nonprofit and filmmaking work. The other centered on former Newsom chief of staff Dana Williamson, who later pleaded guilty in a separate federal fraud case that prosecutors say grew out of an investigation launched during the Biden administration.
The Los Angeles Times reported that nonprofits and a for-profit production company founded by Siebel Newsom are at the center of the federal scrutiny into her charity and business finances. The Justice Department and FBI have not commented publicly on the investigation, according to the Times. The Justice Department did not respond to Fox News Digital’s questions in time for publication.
Among the organizations identified by the Times is the Representation Project, a nonprofit that federal tax records show has paid Siebel Newsom more than $1.9 million in compensation. The nonprofit also awarded roughly $2.2 million in contracts to Girls Club Entertainment, a for-profit production company separately owned by Siebel Newsom.
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The Times also identified the California Partners Project, another nonprofit founded by Siebel Newsom. State disclosures reviewed by the outlet show it has received nearly $5.1 million in “behested payments” reported by the governor since 2020. Behested payments are donations made at an elected official’s request for charitable, legislative or governmental purposes rather than contributions to the official’s political campaign.
Newsom and his wife have maintained that the current Justice Department is weaponizing investigations in retaliation for the pair’s criticism of Trump and his national political profile. However, in an interview last week with MS NOW, Siebel Newsom was asked about the origin of the probes but said she did not know the details.
Meanwhile, Newsom’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s questions about whether he has been contacted by any federal investigators in relation to these cases, or any others. However, Newsom did tell KCRA-3 in California during a Tuesday press conference that he believes it is just a matter of time until he does.
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“It’s inevitable, come on,” Newsom said when asked about any contact from federal investigators. “Look at who we’re dealing with.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House, which referred all questions to the Justice Department.
Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias contributed to this report.