A Former Newsom Aide Faces Sentencing
Dana Williamson, the former chief of staff to Governor Gavin Newsom, is scheduled for sentencing on September 17. The proceedings will take place at the Robert T. Matsui U.S. Courthouse in Sacramento.
Williamson pleaded guilty in May to a series of federal charges, including bank fraud, filing a false tax return, and making false statements to the FBI. The charges stem from her role in a campaign finance corruption scheme.
Diverting $225,000 in Campaign Funds
At the center of the case is a scheme to divert $225,000 from a campaign committee linked to Xavier Becerra, the Democratic frontrunner in the race to succeed Newsom.
Federal prosecutors allege that Williamson collaborated with Sean McCluskie, Becerra’s former chief of staff, to route these funds into McCluskie’s personal bank account. To conceal the illicit transfers, the pair drafted bogus consulting agreements. While Williamson faces a statutory maximum of 38 years in federal prison and up to $1.35 million in fines, sentencing guidelines are expected to call for a far lighter punishment.
The Informant and the Probe
The investigation accelerated after the FBI enlisted Sacramento lobbyist Alexis Podesta as a cooperating witness. Podesta wore a recording device to capture conversations with various political figures. This evidence allowed federal agents to widen their dragnet, conducting interviews with a wide array of lobbyists, consultants, and influential figures in the California Capitol.
McGregor Scott, a former U.S. Attorney representing Williamson, has noted that Podesta acted as a cooperating witness. Podesta was not charged in the scheme.
A Web of Co-Defendants
Federal authorities arrested Williamson, McCluskie, and lobbyist Greg Campbell last November. Campbell has since admitted to falsifying business contracts to help Williamson respond to a federal subpoena. That subpoena was issued regarding a COVID-era business loan obtained by Williamson’s consulting firm. McCluskie and Campbell are currently awaiting their own sentencing hearings.
Political Shadow Over Sacramento
Before serving as Governor Newsom’s chief of staff from 2022 to 2024, Williamson held a series of influential roles. Her career included advising former Governor Jerry Brown, managing campaign accounts for Xavier Becerra, and working as a lobbyist for PG&E.
The case stands as one of the most significant public corruption probes in California in recent years. While federal investigators have conducted separate inquiries involving Governor Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, no accusations of wrongdoing have been leveled against them.