Steve Hilton Vows ‘Taxpayer Fraud Strike Force,’ Puts Gavin Newsom in Crosshairs

Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton says he would launch a sweeping investigation into alleged government waste and fraud on his first day in office, with Gov. Gavin Newsom among the first officials facing scrutiny.

Speaking to Fox News Digital ahead of California’s top-two primary election, Hilton unveiled plans for a “California Taxpayer Fraud Strike Force,” a new investigative unit that would examine allegations of corruption, theft, misuse of public funds, fraud, and government mismanagement.

“This is my first executive order,” Hilton said. “This is Day 1 of the new administration. We’re going to clean house in California.”

According to a draft executive order released by his campaign, the proposed strike force would be tasked with identifying cases of alleged fraud and abuse throughout state government and pursuing criminal referrals when warranted.

Hilton argued that California taxpayers have paid some of the highest taxes in the nation while receiving poor results from state programs.

“I don’t think there’s anything more serious than taking responsibility for taxpayer money,” Hilton said. “We have the highest taxes in the country, in California, and we get the worst results.”

The Republican candidate reserved some of his sharpest criticism for Newsom, accusing the governor of failing to act despite repeated warnings about fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars.

“We will not spare anyone,” Hilton said. “Gavin Newsom will be top of our target list because for years Newsom was warned by the state auditor, by other state agencies, his own state agencies, that billions of dollars were being stolen, and he did nothing about it.”

Hilton said investigators would examine whether state officials, including Newsom, could face legal liability for failing to address alleged fraud.

“What we’re going to be investigating with this executive order, setting up a task force, a strike force to look at criminal prosecution, is whether there was criminal negligence on the part of Gavin Newsom and other state officials,” Hilton said. “And if there was, then they will be prosecuted.”

Newsom’s office responded dismissively when asked about Hilton’s proposal.

“Who is Steve Hilton?” a spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News. The governor’s office added that California is already pursuing fraud investigations and strengthening enforcement efforts to protect taxpayer dollars.

The proposal arrives as California voters head to the polls in a crowded gubernatorial primary. Under the state’s top-two system, all candidates compete on a single ballot, with the two highest vote-getters advancing to November regardless of party affiliation.

Hilton is competing against a field that includes former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, businessman and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer, and several other contenders seeking to succeed Newsom when his term ends.

For Hilton, the message is straightforward: make government accountability the centerpiece of his campaign and argue that California’s taxpayers deserve answers about how billions of public dollars have been spent

Watch the clip above.