California Dem Governor Gavin Newsom is living high on the hog thanks to wealthy donors and special interest insiders.
The governor has been jet-setting around the world and made appearances “at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland in January, followed by the Munich Security Conference in Germany and a climate summit in London in mid-February,” according to a deep-dive by the New York Post.
The trips were funded through a nonprofit called the California State Protocol Foundation, which exists for the purposes of covering the governor’s expenses.
Gavin Newsom’s ever-cozy relationship with wealthy donors and special interests helped fund $57K worth of flights, hotels and meals as he sought to raise his global profile and rub elbows with elites, according to records obtained by The Post. https://t.co/6Ii2UdE8WL pic.twitter.com/utQncT4DFH
— California Post (@californiapost) June 25, 2026
In total, the governor racked up $57,000 worth of “flights, hotels, and meals” as he schmoozed with fellow elites around the world, the Post reported.
Newsom has been taking advantage of “behested payments” described as a “controversial practice that allows elected officials to act as an intermediary for unlimited contributions from wealthy donors and special interests, including those with business before the state,” according to the Post.
“It’s just the latest example of the total corruption of our system of government in California,” Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton told The Post.
“The fact that something like behested payments even exists is an insult to every California taxpayer who expects their government to be working for them — not special interests.”
And corrupt it seems indeed, according to more findings from the Post’s investigation.
Zoox, Amazon’s robotaxi company, contributed $75,000 to Newsom’s foundation on Feb. 24, the Post reported.
Amazon is seeking to combine Zoox with the autonomous auto service Waymo in an effort to expand commercial robotaxi operations in California.
“Zoox has already doled out $155,000 to the governor’s Protocol Foundation since 2024, according to state records,” the Post found.
And there’s plenty more where that comes from. According to the Post:
Protocol Foundation’s most recent IRS filing shows it ended 2024 with just $7,790 in net assets, forcing it to replenish its coffers with a fresh round of donations from wealthy benefactors, politically connected nonprofits and corporations.
Other recent donors included: philanthropist Susie Tompkins Buell, who gave $100,000; crypto billionaire Chris Larsen, who gave $10,000; and the dark money group New Venture Fund, which has contributed $150,000 since last October.
Newsom’s high-profile theatrics and seemingly shady dealings have landed him under federal investigation.
Federal investigators are reportedly examining Gov. Gavin Newsom and Jennifer Siebel Newsom over nonprofit ties and “behested payments” linked to state business. The probe raises broader questions about conflicts of interest, political influence, and accountability in California… pic.twitter.com/AVpb7rV5py
— Independent Institute (@IndependentInst) June 23, 2026
Stay tuned.
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