California Governor Gavin Newsom has disclosed that the White House is investigating the finances of his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, amid growing scrutiny of the couple’s charitable and nonprofit activities. The inquiry, reportedly initiated last year by the U.S. attorney’s office in Sacramento, centers on Siebel Newsom’s tax filings and financial dealings linked to her various nonprofit organizations, according to an unnamed source familiar with the matter.
The probe coincides with an ongoing federal investigation into Dana Williamson, Newsom’s former chief of staff, who pleaded guilty last month to fraud charges related to a separate investigation launched in 2022. The governor has characterized the investigations as politically motivated, accusing the Biden administration and federal agencies, including the FBI and Internal Revenue Service, of targeting him and his associates in retaliation for his potential 2028 presidential ambitions. Newsom has demanded the release of all records related to the probe and pledged transparency by committing to share his recent tax returns, though no specific timeline for their release has been provided.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom is the founder of multiple nonprofits and a film production company focused on gender equity and social issues. Since 2011, she has headed The Representation Project, a nonprofit that licenses her documentaries—such as the 2011 film “Miss Representation”—to educational institutions and organizations. The nonprofit reports having generated over $5.2 million in revenue through film screenings, licensing, and speaking engagements. Tax filings indicate Siebel Newsom has received more than $1.9 million in compensation from the organization, while her production company, Girls Club Entertainment, has earned approximately $2.2 million in contracts from the nonprofit during the same period.
The Representation Project has received funding from various charitable foundations and corporate donors, including Pacific Gas & Electric Co., AT&T, Kaiser Permanente, and others that have business dealings with the state. In 2019, the California Department of Education recommended showing two of Siebel Newsom’s films in high schools to facilitate discussions on media’s impact on gender socialization, a decision that drew criticism from conservative media outlets.
In 2020, Siebel Newsom established the California Partners Project, a nonprofit focused on advancing gender equity in the workplace and safeguarding children in digital environments. The organization does not publicly disclose its donors, but records show it has received over $5 million in “behested payments”—donations solicited in the name of a public official—since its inception. Notable contributors include Silicon Valley Bank, Pinterest, Blue Shield of California’s charitable arm, and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, a Sonoma County tribe that has donated $2.3 million since 2022. The tribe’s chairman, Greg Sarris, was appointed by Newsom to the University of California Board of Regents in 2023.
Some donations have raised ethical questions due to the donors’ existing relationships with the state. Blue Shield, for instance, contributed $100,000 to the California Partners Project and was a donor to Newsom’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign. The company also secured a $15 million no-bid contract to distribute COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, the nonprofit recently received regulatory approval to restructure and establish a parent corporation outside California, a move that drew concern from healthcare advocates.
Political science experts caution that while “behested payments” are legal when properly disclosed, they often tread close to the boundaries of campaign finance laws, especially amid heightened political tensions. The ongoing investigation into the Newsoms’ finances underscores the increased federal scrutiny faced by prominent Democratic officials as political rivalries intensify.
The Justice Department and FBI have declined to comment on the investigations. Meanwhile, Siebel Newsom has vowed to continue her advocacy work despite the scrutiny, emphasizing the importance of advancing gender equity and protecting children’s well-being. Governor Newsom echoed this resolve, describing the probes as part of what he called an abuse of power aimed at silencing political opponents and their associates.