California Governor Gavin Newsom has agreed to pay a $31,500 ethics fine for late reporting of millions in donations, even as he is under federal investigation for unrelated matters.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has agreed to pay a $31,500 fine after California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) found he failed to timely disclose over $5.5 million in behested payments tied to wildfire relief efforts. The violations involved 36 late reports, with some payments being disclosed more than six months after the legal deadline. 📺 DETAIL: The late filings covered donations from major corporations and foundations, including $1 million from the Chuck Lorre Foundation and $500,000 each from BlackRock, Uber Eats, and Lockheed Martin. Apple, Amazon, Verizon, and American Express made donations ranging from $150,000 to $250,000. This marks Newsom’s second fine for similar violations; in 2024, he was fined $10,500 for failing to report $14.4 million in behested payments. 🎯 IMPACT: The FPPC emphasized that this was a repeat violation, warranting a substantial penalty. Significantly, the fine comes as Newsom has revealed he is also facing federal investigations into unrelated matters involving his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom. Newsom claims he is being unfairly targeted by President Donald J. Trump. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “Donald Trump picked the wrong target. We have nothing to hide.” – Gov. Gavin Newsom, referring to the federal investigation on Monday. 📺 FLASHBACK: Under California law, elected officials must disclose behested payments of $5,000 or more within 30 days. Newsom’s previous fine in 2024 also stemmed from late reporting of significant donations. |
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.