Gavin Newsom

As of June 2026, Gavin Newsom, the incumbent governor of California, has not been convicted of any crimes but has been involved in several controversies and investigations. Notably, his administration faced scrutiny for mismanaging approximately $11.4 billion in unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, with allegations of disbursing funds to ineligible claimants and investigations into fraud involving $19 billion in claims (Wikipedia). Critics attributed this to federal warnings that were allegedly ignored, and reports indicated that much of the fraud originated from international criminal gangs (Wikipedia). Additionally, Newsom has faced allegations related to campaign finance practices, including accepting donations from corporations linked to lobbyists and potential conflicts of interest involving campaign contributions and policy decisions. While these allegations have prompted investigations by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), no criminal charges or convictions have been reported (Factually). Furthermore, his former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, pleaded guilty in May 2026 to conspiracy, wire fraud, and making false statements in a scheme involving the siphoning of $225,000 from a campaign account associated with Xavier Becerra, a fellow Democrat and former federal health secretary (Ground News). Williamson's guilty plea included restitution payments, and prosecutors dismissed additional charges (Ground News). In terms of other controversies, Newsom's handling of issues such as wildfire liabilities, oil and gas leasing, and prison programs—particularly the distribution of taxpayer-funded tablets to inmates—has also attracted criticism, though these have not resulted in legal actions against him personally (Wikipedia). Overall, while Newsom has been embroiled in multiple scandals and investigations, no criminal convictions or formal indictments directly implicate him in misconduct as of mid-2026.