Newsom Calls on California Law Enforcement to Probe Possible Federal Agent Crimes

Governor and Attorney General issue bulletin reminding agencies of concurrent jurisdiction with federal authorities.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 9:07pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

California Governor Gavin Newsom has called on state and local law enforcement agencies to exercise their full authority in investigating possible crimes involving federal agents. This comes amid national outrage over the recent killings of two people by federal agents in Minnesota. Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta released a bulletin to law enforcement reminding them of their concurrent jurisdiction with federal authorities.

Why it matters

The directive from Newsom and Bonta is seen as a challenge to the Trump administration, which Minnesota officials have accused of impeding their investigation into the federal agent-involved shootings. This highlights ongoing tensions between state and federal law enforcement, as well as Newsom's potential 2028 presidential ambitions.

The details

The bulletin issued by Newsom and Bonta reminds California law enforcement agencies that they have the authority to investigate potential crimes by federal agents, even if those agents were operating in an official capacity. This 'concurrent jurisdiction' allows state and local police to pursue charges alongside any federal prosecution. The move comes after the recent killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal agents in Minnesota, which have sparked outrage and calls for accountability.

  • The bulletin was released on Tuesday, January 28, 2026.
  • The killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents occurred on Saturday, January 25, 2026.
  • The killing of Renee Good by federal agents occurred several weeks prior to the Pretti incident.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The Governor of California and a likely 2028 presidential contender.

Rob Bonta

The Attorney General of California.

Alex Pretti

A person killed by federal agents in Minneapolis on January 25, 2026.

Renee Good

A person killed by federal agents in Minnesota several weeks prior to the Pretti incident.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Federal and state law enforcement have long collaborated on investigations that result in both federal and state criminal charges, with a presumption that neither law enforcement agency will obstruct the other's investigations or thwart the objective pursuit of justice.”

— Gavin Newsom, Governor of California

What’s next

The judge in Minnesota will decide whether to allow federal agents involved in the Pretti and Good shootings to be charged by state authorities.

The takeaway

This directive from Newsom and Bonta highlights the ongoing tensions between state and federal law enforcement, as well as Newsom's potential 2028 presidential ambitions. It remains to be seen how this will impact the investigations into the federal agent-involved killings in Minnesota.