Chabria: Trump goes after Newsom's wife? Unsurprising, but also a new level of authoritarianism
Key takeaways
- Jean Carroll, who sued President Trump personally and won a huge settlement on her claim that he sexually assaulted her.
- Department of Justice is now targeting his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, as just another addition to that list.
- But this attack on Siebel Newsom (alleged attack, anyway — the Department of Justice has not confirmed she is a target) is something much darker in our slide into authoritarianism.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom speaks at Belvedere Middle School in Los Angeles in October, before her husband, Gov. Gavin Newsom, signed legislation aimed at improving children’s health across California. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) By Anita Chabria Columnist Follow June 15, 2026 3:52 PM PT 1 6 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
The Trump Department of Justice going after people who make the president mad or even sad is nothing new, in this dangerous age when the presidency is increasingly about placating the desires of the old man in the Oval Office.
Leticia James, James Comey, Adam Schiff. Most recently, E. Jean Carroll, who sued President Trump personally and won a huge settlement on her claim that he sexually assaulted her. Now, the Department of Justice is investigating her for potential perjury.