Gavin Newsom May Be 'Criminally' Liable for LA Fires—Marjorie Taylor Greene

Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said in a Wednesday night social media post that California Governor Gavin Newsom may be "criminally responsible" for the wildfires tearing through Los Angeles County.

Newsweek has reached out to Newsom's, Greene's and Trump's communications teams for comment via email on Thursday.

Why It Matters

Greene's post echoes similar sentiments expressed by the party's leader, President-elect Donald Trump, who has repeatedly referred to the governor as "Newscum," a play on his name, and called for his resignation Wednesday night.

Trump has suggested the possibility of prosecuting and punishing his political opponents once he takes office. With support from other lawmakers, his threats could carry more weight.

Newsom has already been tapped as a potential Democratic contender for the 2028 presidential election, making him a key target for Republicans.

The fires have rapidly expanded, burning thousands of acres as new blazes continue to ignite. At least five people have been reported dead, 130,000 people are under evacuation orders, and dozens of structures are reduced to ashes, according to the Associated Press.

What To Know

The fires, which continue to spread and spark new blazes, are scorching the county and city. The largest, the Palisades fire, has been burning in the Pacific Palisades since Tuesday morning.

Air quality in the area surrounding the fires has spiked significantly due to the thick smoke pollution. Levels of particulate matter (PM2.5 ) due to smoke have reached the Unhealthy Air Quality Index (AQI) category or higher in Altadena, Downtown Los Angeles, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena and surrounding fire-affected areas.

Dry vegetation and the powerful Santa Ana winds gusting through Southern California have helped fuel the fires.

Greene, who is a loyal Trump ally, called out Newsom in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday night, writing: "Governor Newson may be criminally responsible for these California wildfires. As governor, Newsom has literally dismantled every responsible way to combat these devastating deadly wildfires. California, you need to choose new leadership and hold your current leaders accountable."

In an earlier post, she said: "Governor Gavin Newsom failed so miserably in water and land management, and now the State of Canada is sending firefighting planes to bail him out."

Izzy Gardon, Newsom's director of communications, told Newsweek in an emailed statement Thursday: "We don't respond to absurd claims from the Jewish Space Laser Lady," referring to the congresswoman's support for the deployment of "space laser technology."

In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump wrote: "Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way."

Trump alleged Newsom had been prioritizing delta smelt, a small fish listed under the Endangered Species Act, over residents by placing restrictions on water flow to ensure its survival.

Responding to Newsweek earlier Thursday morning, Gardon said: "There is no such document as the water restoration declaration, that is pure fiction. The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need."

Newsom addressed Trump's criticism on Wednesday during an interview with CNN in which he said: "People are literally fleeing. People have lost their lives, kids lost their schools. Families completely torn asunder, churches burned down, and this guy wanted to politicize it. I have a lot of thoughts and I know what I want to say—I won't."

As of 4:30 a.m. local time, the Palisades fire had reached 17,234 acres and is considered the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history.

The Eaton fire, near Altadena, also started burning on January 7 and has since reached 10,600 acres in size and is zero percent contained. The blaze is responsible for all five of the deaths reported and has also resulted in the loss of about 1,000 structures.

What People Are Saying

Ed Krassenstein, an AI and crypto futurist, wrote in an X post on Thursday: "So many people simply don't understand what's actually happening in California. The blame game, especially targeting Governor Gavin Newsom, has become a favorite pastime for Republicans and social media opportunists. The arguments they push don't hold up to facts."

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote in an X post Wednesday night: "We are deploying LAPD officers to respond to Hollywood to help alleviate evacuation traffic. We are working urgently to close roads, redirect traffic and expand access for LAFD vehicles to respond to the growing fire."

What Happens Next

President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he has approved Newsom's request for a major disaster declaration in response to the wildfires, making federal funding available to support the victims and rescue efforts.

Firefighting efforts continue as the unrelenting blazes push through the area.

Get real-time updates, critical information and on-the-ground insights as California battles devastating wildfires with Newsweek's live blog.

Update 1/9/25, 12:37 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.