Gavin Newsom gets testy over missing tax returns slams Trump as feds probe governor and wife
Gov.Gavin Newsom grew testy Thursday when pressed on not releasing his tax returns since 2020, deflecting to President Trump while insisting that federal investigations into him and his wife are part of a White House-directed witch hunt to “find something.”The California Democrat — who has sought to position himself as one of Trump’s chief antagonists ahead of a likely 2028 presidential run — was asked during a news conference for updates on his taxes and the federal investigations involving him, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, his staff and people in his political orbit.“I know you love taxes,” Newsom said.
“Donald Trump, when has he released them?”The Post and other media outlets previously reported that investigators were examining Siebel Newsom’s taxes, while also looking at matters connected to Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, who has pleaded guilty in a federal corruption case.When the governor was reminded Thursday that he has attempted to position himself as different from Trump, Newsom said he had previously released his taxes but had no answer for why he has failed to provide them in recent years as promised.“I am [different], that’s why I released all my taxes for decades,” Newsom said.Despite repeatedly pledging to release his tax returns every year while in office, Newsom has not publicly disclosed returns beyond those covering tax year 2020.He released several years’ worth of returns alongside his gubernatorial campaigns, according to Cal Matters and the Sacramento Bee, but has not released any further tax filings since 2022.
“And you will have all those new tax returns, because — I have no reason why you haven’t gotten them already.”The governor, who spoke at Robert E.Willett Elementary School in Davis to draw attention to his record education budget, declined to provide more specifics or updates on who in his inner orbit has been contacted by federal investigators.“It says everything yo...