California Governor Gavin Newsom faces potential decades in prison over allegations of orchestrating a criminal tax evasion scheme, intensifying the state’s spiraling crises. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Newsom of threatening to withhold tens of billions in state payments to the federal government, prompting serious legal scrutiny.
The accusations come as Los Angeles contends with escalating riots targeting ICE agents conducting immigration enforcement operations. Newsom’s alleged defiance of federal tax obligations has deepened California’s turmoil, with the governor navigating both political and legal battles that could reshape his administration’s future.
Modernity.news reports: Newsom issued the threat after reports emerged saying that President Donald Trump plans major funding cuts to California while readying with costly fines for allowing a biological male to compete in girls’ sports and win multiple state titles.
“A Biological Male competed in California Girls State Finals, WINNING BIG, despite the fact that they were warned by me not to do so,” Trump recently wrote on Truth Social last week. “As Governor Gavin Newscum fully understands, large scale fines will be imposed!”
Newsom responded to Trump’s post, writing on X: “Californians pay the bills for the federal government. We pay over $80 BILLION more in taxes than we get back. Maybe it’s time to cut that off, @realDonaldTrump.”
“I am certain most California businesses know that failing to pay taxes owed to the Treasury constitutes tax evasion and have no intention of following the dangerous path Governor @GavinNewsom is threatening,” Bessent said on X. “I would warn state officials, including payroll managers, that federal law attaches personal liability to an attempt to evade or defeat tax.”
“Instead of committing criminal tax evasion, Governor Newsom should consider a tax plan for California that follows the Trump Tax Cuts model and reduces the onerous state tax burden to allow families to keep more of their hard-earned money,” the Treasury secretary added, branding the governor’s plan “extremely reckless.”
Just days before President Trump’s social media post condemning California’s policies on transgender athletes, AB Hernandez, a transgender junior from Jurupa Valley High School, dominated the girls’ state track and field championships in Clovis. Hernandez secured gold in the high jump (5 feet, 7 inches, with no failed attempts) and triple jump (sharing first place), while earning silver in the long jump. This sparked controversy, as Hernandez shared the podium with female competitors who placed just behind her during Saturday’s finals, fueling debates over fairness in competition.
Violent anti-ICE protests escalated in downtown Los Angeles as radical demonstrators clashed with police, set vehicles ablaze, and blocked a major freeway, marking a third day of unrest on Sunday.
The turmoil surged nationwide over the weekend, with far-left agitators storming the streets of Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago to denounce ICE’s intensified immigration raids aimed at securing the border. Undeterred, these protesters unleashed havoc, challenging law and order in America’s cities.
In Los Angeles, authorities arrested 27 individuals on Saturday as approximately 300 National Guard troops were deployed to restore control, with the first units arriving Sunday morning. Late Saturday, LAPD officials reported 10 additional arrests—including a dangerous suspect accused of hurling a Molotov cocktail—while three courageous officers sustained injuries but avoided hospitalization in the line of duty.