Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday rejected California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s claims that the Justice Department is politically targeting him, saying the governor’s assertions are not «grounded in fact.»

Blanche responded to comments made by Newsom, who said last month that the Justice Department is investigating him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, under orders from President Donald Trump.

While Blanche declined to comment on any ongoing investigations, he dismissed the governor’s claims.

GAVIN NEWSOM CLAIMS TRUMP ORDERED DOJ PROBE TARGETING HIM AND HIS WIFE

«The only thing I’ll say about what he chose to do and what he chose to say is, I’m not sure his words are in any way grounded in fact,» Blanche said during a news conference.

«He’d have to address that,» Blanche added.

Newsom claimed June 15 that Trump had directed the Justice Department to investigate him and his wife in an effort to undermine a potential White House campaign.

The California governor has described the investigation as a politically motivated «fishing expedition» by Trump’s DOJ, saying he and his wife have «nothing to hide.» Newsom has also argued the inquiry is aimed at him because he is considering a presidential run, saying, «To get me, he’s coming after my wife.»

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEWSOM-LINKED CHARITIES REPORTEDLY CAUGHT IN DOJ’S SIGHTS

President Donald Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., have feuded throughout Trump’s second term so far. (AP Newsroom)

«Donald Trump isn’t just coming after me because of my mean Tweets. He’s coming after me because I am considering running for President,» Newsom said. «Because he hates that I’ve consistently called him out – over and over again – for his lies and deceit. Donald Trump is simply the most corrupt President in American history.»

Blanche also rejected Newsom’s broader characterization of the situation.

«He can choose to say whatever he thinks helps him,» Blanche said. «It doesn’t make it true.»

NEWSOM UNDER FIRE AS CALIFORNIA GAS TAX HIKE SENDS PUMP PRICES EVEN HIGHER

Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Award-Winning Filmmaker, Co-Founder of California Partners Project speaks on stage during the 2024 California Conference For Women at Santa Clara Convention Center on Feb. 29, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Marla Aufmuth/Getty Images for Conference for Women)

Sources previously told Fox News the investigation has been ongoing since 2025 and is based on whistleblower complaints related to Newsom and his wife’s personal finances. The matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento.

Federal sources confirmed to Fox News there are investigations involving Jennifer Siebel Newsom, but Fox News has not learned of any federal investigation directly targeting Gov. Newsom himself.

The Justice Department has not publicly confirmed any investigation involving Newsom or his wife.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom is a documentary filmmaker who runs The Representation Project, a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance feminism through media production. Fox News Digital previously reported the charity has faced «pay-for-play» allegations, with critics claiming corporations with business interests in California donated to the organization in an effort to gain influence with Newsom.

«There are clearly no boundaries to what Donald Trump will do to get his way or to challenge those who get in his way. This is not presidential behavior, and the Governor and I will continue to speak truth to power because the American people deserve so much more,» Jennifer Siebel Newsom said in a previous statement to Fox News.

Following Blanche’s remarks Wednesday, the governor’s office posted a meme on social media with the caption, «Why you always lyin.»

The governor’s press office also wrote, «Trump goons know that it’s not a crime to lie to a reporter.»

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom has described the Justice Department’s alleged investigation as a politically motivated «fishing expedition.» (Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Fox News Digital has reached out to Newsom’s office for additional comment.

Fox News Digital’s Bonny Chu and Robert Schmad contributed to this report.

El presidente de Ucrania, Volodimir Zelensky, informó que al menos 13 personas murieron y más de 90 resultaron heridas tras un ataque ruso contra Kiev, que además causó daños en más de 20 puntos de la capital, principalmente en edificios residenciales.

Según el mandatario, Rusia lanzó durante la noche “más de 70 misiles de varios tipos contra Ucrania, casi la mitad de ellos balísticos, junto con casi 500 drones de ataque, incluidos ‘shaheds’ impulsados por chorro”. Agregó que “el golpe principal fue dirigido a Kiev” y que las defensas antiaéreas lograron interceptar “un número significativo de los objetivos entrantes, pero no todos”.

Zelensky insistió en la necesidad urgente de reforzar la defensa aérea del país. «Los suministros de defensa aérea para Ucrania son una prioridad absoluta y crítica. Las contribuciones al programa PURL siguen siendo esenciales: ayudan directamente a salvar vidas“, afirmó.

Además, sostuvo que “cada acuerdo bilateral que alcanzamos con nuestros socios en materia de defensa aérea realmente marca la diferencia” y agradeció el apoyo de los países aliados.

El mandatario indicó que las tareas de rescate continuaban en Kiev, donde los equipos de emergencia retiraban escombros, buscaban sobrevivientes y asistían a los afectados. “Se ha reportado daño en más de 20 sitios en toda la ciudad, la mayoría de ellos edificios residenciales comunes. También hubo daños en una estación de ambulancias, un instituto de investigación, un hotel y negocios”, señaló.

Zelensky precisó además que cinco personas resultaron heridas en la región de Kharkiv, entre ellas una menor de edad, mientras que otras dos sufrieron lesiones en la región de Kiev, donde también se registraron daños en infraestructura civil. Asimismo, indicó que durante la noche las fuerzas rusas atacaron las regiones de Sumy, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia y Cherkasy.

El presidente ucraniano destacó la importancia de avanzar en acuerdos para fortalecer las capacidades antibalísticas y reiteró su expectativa de que Estados Unidos autorice licencias para sistemas Patriot y otras iniciativas de cooperación en materia de defensa. “Estos son los tipos de pasos que pueden detener esta guerra y prevenir ataques como este. Agradezco a todos los que están con Ucrania, con nuestra gente y con nuestros esfuerzos para proteger la vida”, concluyó en su mensaje en X.

Ante este escenario, el alcalde de la capital, Vitali Klitschko, afirmó que Kiev sufrió el mayor ataque de las fuerzas rusas desde el inicio de la invasión y agregó: “Mañana, 3 de julio, queda declarado como día de luto en Kiev, en memoria de las víctimas del ataque más masivo del enemigo contra la capital”.

Por su parte, el Ministerio de Defensa de Rusia informó que lanzó un ataque nocturno contra objetivos militares en Kiev. De acuerdo con la versión la cartera, la planta Radioniks, que elabora “sistemas de navegación para misiles de crucero de emplazamiento terrestres de largo alcance Flamingo, misiles tácticos Fire Point 7 y 9, misiles Neptune-MD y misiles tierra-aire del Proyecto Clone”, fue bombardeada. El comunicado oficial señala que “las producciones de la fábrica influyen directamente en la capacidad de combate de la Fuerza Aérea Ucraniana y en sus defensas antiaéreas”.

El reporte militar también indicó daños en la planta de montaje ATLON AVIA, donde se producen los drones de largo alcance An-196 Liuti y los drones de asalto Magura UA, así como otros modelos de vehículos aéreos no tripulados. Entre los objetivos señalados figuran las fábricas Kievski Radiozavod y Trimen Ukraina, especializadas en sistemas de colimado y ópticos de puntería para tanques y blindados, además de piezas para múltiples tipos de drones espías y de ataque.

La empresa Kiev-25 del grupo PV group Ukraina, encargada de sistemas de lucha radioelectrónica Lima, también resultó alcanzada según el ministerio ruso. Además, el ataque incluyó la planta de ensamblaje aeronáutica Antonov, dedicada al diseño y producción de drones como el An-196 Liuti.

Tras el informe ruso y los detalles dados por el jefe de Estado ucraniano, la alta representante de la Unión Europea para Asuntos Exteriores, Kaja Kallas, anunció que el jueves se propondrán nuevas sanciones contra entidades que apoyan el complejo militar-industrial ruso, como respuesta al ataque masivo contra edificios residenciales en Kiev. “Seguiremos aumentando el coste hasta que Rusia entienda que no puede ganar”, publicó Kallas en la red X.

La funcionaria confirmó que el personal de la UE en Kiev se encuentra a salvo tras el bombardeo, que dejó al menos 13 personas muertas y decenas de heridos.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, announced on Wednesday the state’s intention to use a new state law to designate dozens of groups as terrorist organizations, a move that would still require approval by the Florida Cabinet, prompting legal objections from at least one of the groups.

HB 1471 was signed into law earlier this year and went into effect on Wednesday.

The governor said the state plans to implement its new statutory authority to «identify, designate, and combat terrorist organizations operating in Florida» in the first use of powers established under the legislation.

Florida officials plan to designate more than 90 groups as terrorist organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations the Muslim Brotherhood and Antifa, though the proposed designations must be approved by the governor and Cabinet before they are finalized under the statute.

FLORIDA’S CAIR THREATENS LAWSUIT AGAINST DESANTIS AFTER HE LABELS GROUP A ‘FOREIGN TERRORIST’ ORGANIZATION

«Last December, I signed an Executive Order to eliminate the influence of radical terrorist ideologies and the organizations that promote them in Florida. This year, I signed legislation to strengthen those protections and give Florida permanent statutory tools to combat terrorism while defending the Constitutional rights of our citizens,» DeSantis said in a statement. «Today, we are officially designating terrorist organizations under Florida law. In addition to CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, we are adding Antifa to the list—along with more than 90 Foreign Terrorist Organizations, including cartels.»

However, under HB 1471, the Chief of Domestic Security may designate qualifying organizations as domestic or foreign terrorist organizations, but the governor and Cabinet may approve or reject those designations by majority vote before they are published in the Florida Administrative Register.

Some of the foreign organizations added to the list include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and gangs such as Cartel de Sinaloa, Tren de Aragua, Cartel del Noreste and Cartel del Golfo.

The new law allows the governor and Cabinet to approve or reject designations initially made by the chief of domestic security within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

«Keeping our community safe starts with identifying the threat,» Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said. «The safety of our community is strengthened by that knowledge every day, and reinforced by the collaboration between our officers, our federal partners, and—most importantly—the people we serve.»

HB 1471 was signed into law earlier this year and went into effect on Wednesday. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

HB 1471 directs agencies to deny groups public support and taxpayer funding. The law also establishes state enforcement mechanisms and criminal penalties for providing material support to designated terrorist organizations.

More specifically, the law restricts certain public benefits, funding and institutional support connected to designated groups, and creates criminal penalties for knowingly providing, attempting to provide or conspiring to provide material support or resources to a designated domestic terrorist organization.

The law also ensures that foreign or religious legal codes cannot override the U.S. or Florida Constitutions in state courts.

CAIR, a Muslim civil rights group, condemned the move and said it would continue challenging the state’s actions, following the governor’s announcement on Wednesday, saying the organization does not engage in «terrorist activity» and has not been charged or convicted of a crime. CAIR and CAIR-Florida have also previously sued over DeSantis’ December executive order targeting CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood.

«Throughout CAIR’s long history, our civil rights organization has worked to protect the Constitution’s guarantees of free speech, religious freedom and equality under the law,» the group said in a statement. «We have also pursued justice for all people, including American Muslims impacted by hate. This is exactly why Gov. DeSantis has repeatedly targeted our organization. We see through Gov. DeSantis’ latest biased attempt to punish us for our views and our values. We look forward to fighting these baseless attacks in court and proving once again that the Constitution is stronger than any politician’s bigotry.»

FLORIDA DESIGNATES MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AND CAIR AS FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, DESANTIS SAYS

Florida officials plan to designate more than 90 groups as terrorist organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Muslim Brotherhood and Antifa. (Stephanie Keith/Bloomberg)

Critics, including CAIR and civil liberties groups, argue the designations are politically motivated and threaten First Amendment-protected speech and association. DeSantis and state officials have argued the law is aimed at preventing taxpayer support for groups they say promote or support terrorism.

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CAIR and civil liberties groups said they would challenge the designation as baseless and unconstitutional.

«Florida’s imminent designation of our clients is both dire and unmoored from reality. CAIR and CAIR-Florida’s speech and advocacy are protected by the First Amendment, which includes their right to criticize the governor, other officials, and their policies. We’re asking the court to protect our clients’ cardinal freedoms,» Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU’s National Security Project, said in a statement.

The designations, if approved by the Cabinet, would operate under Florida law and would not be the same as a federal foreign terrorist organization designation, which is made by the U.S. State Department.