Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of workers was arrested Wednesday on federal prices that allege she siphoned $225,000 out of 2026 gubernatorial hopeful Xavier Becerra’s dormant state marketing campaign account and wrote off $1 million in luxurious purses and high-flying journey as enterprise bills on her tax returns.
Newsom shouldn’t be talked about in reference to the allegations and has not been accused of wrongdoing.
However the legal professional for the previous chief of workers, Dana Williamson, stated that greater than a yr in the past, federal authorities approached her in search of assist with some type of a probe of the governor.
“She informed them she had no info to offer them, after which we wind up at the moment with these prices,” Williamson’s legal professional McGregor Scott stated in an announcement to The Occasions.
Scott, a former U.S. legal professional in Sacramento, didn’t present particulars in regards to the strategy, and it was not talked about within the federal indictment.
A second supply with data of the case who was not approved to talk publicly stated federal investigators tried to stress Williamson into implicating Newsom, however that Williamson informed them she had no data of any wrongdoing by the governor and that she refused to cooperate.
Based on the 23-count indictment, unsealed Wednesday morning, political marketing consultant Williamson conspired with Becerra’s former chief deputy within the California legal professional basic’s workplace and ex-chief of workers Sean McCluskie, together with lobbyist Greg Campbell to invoice Becerra’s dormant marketing campaign account for bogus consulting companies.
Williamson, 53, entered a federal courtroom in Sacramento on Wednesday afternoon wanting solemn, carrying an oversize grey hoodie. She initially remained composed however may very well be heard softly crying because the case progressed. She pleaded not responsible to the fees.
Scott stated Williamson was in poor health and had not too long ago been placed on a ready listing for a liver transplant.
“In my expertise, an arrest warrant is just issued for individuals who have dedicated violent crimes or are a flight threat. There was completely no cause for them to not contact me, let me know of the indictment and permit me to make preparations to give up herself,” he stated.
Williamson, McCluskie and Campbell allegedly used shell firms they managed to funnel cash from the marketing campaign fund beginning in early 2022, when Becerra was serving as Well being and Human Companies secretary underneath President Biden.
“The information at the moment of formal accusations of impropriety by a long-serving trusted advisor are a intestine punch,” Becerra stated in an announcement. “I’ve voluntarily cooperated with the U.S. Division of Justice of their investigation, and can proceed to take action. As California’s former Lawyer Normal, I absolutely comprehend the significance of permitting this investigation and authorized course of to run its course by means of our justice system.”
The majority of these funds went to McCluskie’s spouse, then a stay-at-home mother, for faux work, federal authorities allege. McCluskie agreed to plead responsible to a single depend of conspiracy to commit fraud and is cooperating with authorities, courtroom filings present.
“It’s unbelievable,” stated Steve Maviglio, a longtime Democratic marketing consultant who has recognized Williamson for greater than 20 years and Campbell for practically the identical. “They’re each the perfect at what they do. They know the principles, that’s why this appears to make no sense in any respect.”
Campbell’s legal professional Todd Pickles stated his consumer “takes full accountability for his actions and is cooperating absolutely with the authorized course of.”
“I do know Greg Campbell to be an honorable former public servant and a optimistic and revered member of the neighborhood who has carried out himself with integrity by means of this deeply difficult course of,” Pickles stated.
Along with bilking Becerra’s marketing campaign fund, Williamson was charged with falsifying paperwork to backstop a COVID-era small-business mortgage and claiming designer purses and luxurious holidays as enterprise bills on her tax returns.
Amongst her contested write-offs: Williamson allegedly purchased herself a $15,353 Chanel purse and a $5,818 Fendi pockets; splashed out for a $150,000 birthday journey to Mexico, the place she charged an $11,000 yacht journey; charged a $21,000 jaunt on a personal jet; and dropped greater than $10,000 at an unnamed California theme park.
The Paycheck Safety Program was a part of a trillion-dollar federal aid effort designed to assist Individuals and small companies throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Williamson was launched Wednesday on a $500,000 bond. Choose Carolyn Delaney ordered her to offer a DNA pattern, undergo drug testing, give up her passport and relinquish any firearms in her possession. She gave Williamson till Nov. 26 to place up collateral.
Information of the indictment may additional scramble the 2026 race for California governor, which will likely be an open seat as Newsom phrases out. Becerra has launched a marketing campaign for the put up, as have plenty of different distinguished Democrats together with former Rep. Katie Porter and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Whereas Becerra shouldn’t be accused of wrongdoing within the case, having his identify linked to Sacramento insiders accused of political corruption may complicate his run.
The indictment may additionally trigger issues for Newsom, who has brazenly stated he’s contemplating a run for president in 2028. Although there isn’t a indication that the allegations are tied to the work Williamson did as Newsom’s chief of workers, Republicans and different political rivals might exploit a scandal tied to considered one of his high former advisors.
Williamson is called a seasoned political operator in Sacramento and blunt-talking enforcer for Newsom. She joined the governor’s workplace in early 2023 and departed late final yr.
A former Cupboard secretary to former Gov. Jerry Brown who additionally as soon as labored for former Gov. Grey Davis, she served Newsom by means of a tough interval for California and the governor’s workplace, when a funds surplus shifted to a deficit and coverage priorities grew to become tougher to push by means of.
“I’ve had the glory of serving underneath three governors and when requested what I’ll miss probably the most, my reply is all the time the identical — the privilege of working with a few of the smartest and most dedicated individuals I’ve ever recognized,” she stated on the time.
She left her job on the Capitol in December.
“Ms. Williamson now not serves on this administration,” a spokesperson for the governor stated. “Whereas we’re nonetheless studying particulars of the allegations, the Governor expects all public servants to uphold the best requirements of integrity. At a time when the President is brazenly calling for his Lawyer Normal to analyze his political enemies, it’s particularly necessary to honor the American precept of being harmless till confirmed responsible in a courtroom of regulation by a jury of 1’s friends.”
Newsom has been in Brazil since Sunday, starting with a world local weather traders symposium in São Paulo earlier than flying roughly 1,800 miles north to Belém for the United Nations local weather summit generally known as COP30.
On Wednesday morning, earlier than information of the fees towards Williamson, he left the convention for a deliberate journey deep into the Amazon rainforest, the place he and a small delegation will board one other flight after which journey by boat to go to reforestation and local weather mitigation initiatives.
Newsom stated he was wanting to witness “what I’ve solely seen on TV or what I’ve seen disappear in my lifetime,” describing each the anxiousness he felt throughout years of fires and deforestation underneath former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and the optimism he hopes to search out within the restoration work now underway.
Federal authorities stated the indictment was the results of a three-year investigation, that means it started throughout the Biden administration.
“At the moment’s prices are the results of three years of relentless investigative work, in partnership with IRS Prison Investigation and the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace,” stated FBI Sacramento Particular Agent in Cost Sid Patel. “The FBI will stay vigilant in its efforts to uncover fraud and corruption, guaranteeing our authorities programs are held to the best requirements.”
