By Eliyahu Kamisher and Andrew Oxford, Bloomberg
Federal prosecutors have indicted a former chief of staff to California Governor Gavin Newsom on public corruption charges, ensnaring a longtime adviser to one of the nation’s most prominent Democrats.
Dana Williamson is accused of conspiring to divert about $225,000 from a dormant political campaign for an associate’s personal use, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday. She also allegedly claimed more than $1 million in business deductions for what were actually private expenditures for luxury goods and other personal items, prosecutors said.
A prominent political operative in the state capital of Sacramento, Williamson served as Newsom’s top aide for about two years starting in late 2022 and was known for her combative style and central role in negotiating the governor’s marquee initiatives. Prosecutors said she created false backdated contracts after being subpoenaed for records related to a federal Covid-19 stimulus program and later made false statements to FBI agents.
“This is a crucial step in an ongoing political corruption investigation that began more than three years ago,” said Eric Grant, interim US attorney for the Eastern District of California.
Williamson pleaded not guilty during a court hearing Wednesday. Matthew Rowan, a lawyer for Williamson, declined to comment further to reporters after the hearing. Williamson didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment sent to her phone.
The judge agreed to release Williamson on a $500,000 bond secured by her home in Sacramento. She left the courthouse without talking to reporters.
Newsom’s office sought to distance him from the allegations while accusing President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi of targeting political rivals. Grant was appointed earlier this year.
“Ms. Williamson no longer serves in this administration,” a spokesperson for the governor said. “While we are still learning details of the allegations, the governor expects all public servants to uphold the highest standards of integrity. At a time when the president is openly calling for his attorney general to investigate his political enemies, it is especially important to honor the American principle of being innocent until proven guilty in a court of law by a jury of one’s peers.”
Newsom’s office said Williamson was placed on leave in November 2024, after she informed them of the criminal investigation, and formally left in December.
The indictment also names other top Sacramento strategists. Sean McCluskie, a longtime chief of staff to former US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, is alleged to have received the payments from the dormant political account. The money allegedly was funneled to McCluskie as payment for a “no show” job for his spouse. Becerra, who wasn’t named in the indictment, said the news was “a gut punch.”
“I have voluntarily cooperated with the US Department of Justice in their investigation, and will continue to do so,” Becerra, who is running for California governor in 2026, said in a statement.
Gregg Campbell, a top Sacramento lobbyist, also allegedly help send the campaign funds to McCluskie, the indictment says. Both Campbell and McCluskie accepted plea agreements that were unsealed on Wednesday and corroborated details of the federal investigation.
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