A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of California is investigating funding related to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s international travel. The probe stems from subpoenas issued earlier this month that require communications with Newsom and his aides, including Rebecca Prowda, who manages his travel, to be turned over as authorities examine records of the California State Protocol Foundation.
Since 2019, Newsom has directed more than $7.5 million through this nonprofit—a tax-exempt organization established for over two decades to fund governors’ international trips. The investigation seeks donor lists, fundraising communications, and internal correspondence to trace the source of funds.
The probe has intensified following Dana Williamson’s guilty plea in May as Newsom’s chief of staff until 2024 to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, filing false tax returns, and lying to federal investigators—actions representing deliberate criminal conduct. Notably, the initial investigation began under President Biden’s Department of Justice.
The grand jury is actively reviewing evidence to determine if criminal indictments are warranted. Citizens of California, who have observed state infrastructure decline while their governor traveled internationally on donated funds, deserve transparency from this process.
