California Governor Newsom pays $31,500 ethics fine

California Governor Gavin Newsom has agreed to pay a $31,500 fine to the state's Fair Political Practices Commission for repeatedly failing to timely disclose millions of dollars in charitable donations he solicited from corporations. The commission announced the penalty on Thursday, June 18, 2026, for 36 late reports covering more than $5.5 million in "behested payments" from 2024 and 2025.

The fine comes amid a separate federal investigation involving Newsom, his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and members of his inner circle, which the governor publicly announced earlier this week. In a video statement on Monday, June 15, Newsom said he and his wife are under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, an action he alleges was personally directed by President Donald Trump to target a political rival. Newsom stated that federal agents have contacted dozens of his and his wife's former employees, friends, and associates, demanding records and conducting interviews. He characterized the probe as a politically motivated "fishing expedition."

The Justice Department has declined to comment on the investigation. However, a person familiar with the matter said there is not an...