Gavin Newsom takes a risky move out of Hunter Biden’s playbook to protect himself and wife Jennifer

Gov. Gavin Newsom is pulling Hunter Biden’s legal red lever as the Justice Department breathes down his neck.

The governor has hired defense attorney Abbe Lowell, who has represented Hunter and other high-profile Democrats. He confirmed Lowell’s hiring in a Tuesday press conference.

Lowell represented Biden in both of his prominent criminal cases: his federal tax charges case in California and a Delaware illegal firearms case.

President Joe Biden pardoned Hunter as he left the presidency, allowing his son to get off scot-free even as he pleaded guilty in California and a Delaware jury found him guilty of several felonies.

Newsom is hoping Lowell can deflect the DOJ’s federal investigation into him, which he has called a “fishing expedition.” He said that neither he nor his wife have been contacted by federal officials or subpoenaed.

A source familiar with the matter told The Post that the Newsom administration is facing multiple investigations, touching on accusations of public corruption that stretch back at least a year into himself, his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, as well as former and even current staff.

The US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of California is also specifically probing allegations brought forward by California whistleblowers regarding Newsom’s wife’s taxes as well as his former chief of staff, Dana Williamson.

A second source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Post that the case is being handled by the Eastern District of California US Attorney Eric Grant, and they suggested that Newsom’s announcement could have been motivated by concerns over who investigators have already contacted.

“What he’s trying to do is poison the well and delegitimize the whole process,” the source said.

Newsom has taken advantage of the Trump administration’s attention.

Within hours of releasing a video accusing President Donald Trump of weaponizing the Department of Justice, Newsom’s political action committee, Campaign for Democracy, sent out an email pleading for money to help with his potential legal defense and political strategy.

Newsom then raised $250,000 in the first two weeks from the PAC and two associated accounts — Campaign for Democracy Committee and Campaign for Democracy Group — consisting mostly of small-dollar individual donations.

The Newsom attorney has also represented New York Attorney General Letitia James and Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook.

Lowell has gotten into trouble of his own as he represented the Democratic stars.

A lawsuit, filed in September 2024, accused Lowell of acting with “clear malice” and harming the reputations of the IRS employees investigating the former first son when he alleged to the media that they had illegally leaked Hunter’s private tax information.

He settled for $20 million in the lawsuit brought by IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler.

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