I'm loath to admit it, but California Gov. Gavin Newsom has a real shot at the Democratic presidential nomination.

He's handsome, intelligent and charming enough to appeal to voters without being smarmy. After running the state with the largest gross domestic product in the nation, he carries genuine gravitas. And he's shown self-awareness about his weaknesses, making a push toward the center and sitting down with conservatives like the late Charlie Kirk on his podcast in 2025.

This is why the latest news about Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, being under investigation by the Department of Justice comes at an interesting time. The governor says it's political.

"Donald Trump isn't just coming after me because of my mean tweets," Newsom said in a video posted to X on June 15. "He's coming after me because I am considering running for president." He went on: "One by one, anyone who has challenged Donald Trump has ended up on his hit list. And today, I proudly join that list."

Given President Trump's tendency to use the DOJ against political opponents, Newsom's defensive reaction seems understandable at first glance – maybe even........

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