U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-California) voiced concerns Sunday regarding the fairness and potential political motivations of federal investigations being conducted by the Justice Department under President Donald Trump’s administration. His remarks, made during an interview with KCRA, came amid ongoing scrutiny of federal probes involving California Governor Gavin Newsom, his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and several nonprofit organizations linked to the family.
"I'm not saying there could never be merit to the investigation, but what we are seeing is such dramatic proof of the abuse of the department…" — U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, (D-California).
Schiff addressed questions about the merits of the Justice Department’s inquiry into Governor Newsom, who has accused President Trump of directing federal investigators to target him as retaliation, particularly as Newsom weighs a possible presidential campaign in 2028. Governor Newsom has characterized the investigation as politically motivated, arguing that federal law enforcement agencies are being improperly used against political opponents.
"I’m not saying that there can never be merit to an investigation … even when it involves someone who is not a fan of the president," Senator Schiff stated during the interview. However, he quickly pivoted to express broader concerns about what he described as a troubling pattern of conduct by the Justice Department. "What we are seeing, what we have seen, is such dramatic proof of the abuse of the department," Schiff asserted, referencing several instances he believes demonstrate political interference.
Reports indicate that the investigations into Governor Newsom's circle involve reviews of tax records, financial dealings of nonprofit organizations associated with Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and an expanded inquiry linked to Newsom’s former chief of staff. Federal investigators have reportedly been reviewing financial records and conducting interviews as part of these ongoing probes. No criminal charges have been filed against Governor Newsom or his wife, and federal officials have not publicly detailed the full scope of the inquiries beyond what has emerged through media reporting and public statements.
Senator Schiff acknowledged that his detailed knowledge of the underlying facts of the Newsom investigation is limited. "My understanding is that the governor’s former chief of staff said the governor had no involvement in what she ended up pleading guilty to. So that’s as much as I know of the facts of that," he noted.
To support his broader claims of Justice Department overreach, Schiff pointed to other high-profile cases. He specifically referenced the federal prosecution of James Comey, the former FBI Director. "The indictment of James Comey over seashells, for example, is inexplicable," Schiff claimed. "That case will be thrown out. It’s just a question of how soon it will be thrown out, whether it’s thrown out by a judge or thrown out by a jury. That is a terrible abuse."
Schiff argued that such actions by the Justice Department have eroded public trust and created skepticism about investigations involving prominent critics of the administration. He emphasized that this pattern places a greater responsibility on federal authorities to demonstrate that politically sensitive investigations are being conducted appropriately and without bias. "When you see abuses like that, then you just have to call into question any time they’re calling for the prosecution of their enemies," Schiff said, according to the New York Post. "So the proof has been quite compelling, and I think it shifts the burden to the Justice Department to prove what they’re doing is legitimate."
Senator Schiff and Governor Newsom share a close political relationship and are recognized as two of California's most prominent Democratic figures. The ongoing investigations and Schiff’s public commentary underscore the heightened political tensions surrounding federal law enforcement actions, particularly those touching on figures who are perceived as political adversaries of the sitting administration. The Justice Department has not issued a public response to Schiff's comments or Newsom's allegations of political targeting.
