California Governor Gavin Newsom hosted a private meeting with his sister Hilary Newsom Callan and an undisclosed list of corporate executives at the Governor’s Mansion, raising questions about whether the governor is mixing state business with his family’s wine and hospitality empire.

Secret Summit Behind Closed Doors

Records obtained by the California Post reveal Newsom met with members of the Young Presidents’ Organization, an exclusive network of CEOs and business leaders, on March 26. His sister Hilary, who manages the family’s PlumpJack Group business holdings, sat beside him during a panel discussion at the Sacramento mansion. The governor received a five-minute briefing before the lunchtime event, according to calendar records released after a months-long public records battle.

The meeting included Dee Dee Myers, director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Photos posted on LinkedIn by an attendee show the governor and his sister leading the discussion with the corporate leaders. Neither Newsom’s office nor the Young Presidents’ Organization would identify which CEOs attended or reveal what topics were discussed during the gathering.

Trust Questions Mount

Newsom transferred his PlumpJack business interests into a blind trust managed by family friend Shyla Hendrickson when he took office in 2019. He also signed an executive order barring state agencies from doing business with PlumpJack, which operates wineries, hotels, restaurants, and retail stores across California. Despite these measures, the governor recently spent more than fifty thousand dollars in campaign donor funds on PlumpJack wines, according to earlier reporting.

State Republican Party Chairwoman Corrin Rankin demanded answers about why the governor’s sister participated in meetings with major business leaders. The line between public duties and private family interests should never be blurred, Rankin said. Government ethics experts generally consider blind trusts among the strongest tools for reducing conflicts of interest, but questions persist about the arrangement’s effectiveness.

Office Dismisses Concerns

Newsom’s spokesperson Diana Crofts-Pelayo called any suggestion of ethical concerns patently absurd. The governor has participated in Young Presidents’ Organization events for years, she said, adding that meeting with business leaders represents routine gubernatorial responsibilities. Hilary Newsom Callan stated YPO has nothing to do with PlumpJack and denied communicating with her brother about business matters. However, both the governor’s office and his sister refused to answer specific questions about the March meeting, including whether any attending CEOs maintain business ties to PlumpJack.