Exclusive | Gavin Newsom preparing to release long-delayed tax returns amid DOJ probe

Gov.Gavin Newsom says he’ll publicly release long-delayed tax returns amid a Department of Justice probe dealing with his family’s finances — though he won’t say exactly when.

Newsom’s office said Friday it is “working to prepare” the governor’s tax returns spanning his current term in office as federal officials reportedly investigate his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s finances and other individuals close to the governor.Newsom had vowed to release annual tax returns during his 2018 campaign for governor, calling it a “moral duty” in what was viewed as a shot at President Donald Trump, who broke tradition by declining to voluntarily release his returns.But the wine entrepreneur turned Democratic superstar mysteriously went dark on that front after his 2022 reelection, last releasing details for tax year 2020 more than four years ago.“The Governor and First Partner publicly disclose their income annually.

They have released every tax return that had been filed while he was a candidate for statewide office, covering 2015 through his 2022 re-election,” said Newsom’s spokesperson Tara Gallegos in an email.“We are working to prepare the remaining returns for transparency.Unlike Donald Trump, the Governor has nothing to hide,” she added.

Newsom’s office didn’t provide a timeline for the tax disclosures.The governor was asked about the tax returns by Calmatters in 2024, and spokesperson Nathan Click claimed at the time they would eventually be provided to reporters “in a controlled setting.” “Gavin Newsom’s lack of transparency is unsurprising and deeply hypocritical.

After making a big deal of promising to release his tax returns, he has failed to turn over any returns for years,” said Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust.“This raises significant questions about just what the Newsoms are hiding, especially as they are under federal investigation,” she added.The Newsoms’ family fortune...