A trio of California political insiders has been indicted in connection with a sprawling federal public corruption probe that accuses them of siphoning campaign cash to fund a lavish lifestyle that includes yacht and private jet trips, luxury goods and hotel stays.
Dana Williamson, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff, was charged last week in the Eastern District of California with 23 counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. She made her first court appearance Wednesday.
The 53-year-old allegedly tapped into a dormant campaign fund for Xavier Becerra, the former Health and Human Services Secretary and current candidate for California governor, to pay for a lavish lifestyle that included a $150,000 trip to Mexico for her birthday, tens of thousands on Gucci and Chanel bags and a trip to theme parks in California.
Williamson is also accused of funneling the money to Sean McCluskie, Becerra’s former chief of staff.
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In all, Williamson allegedly siphoned $225,000 from the account, partly to pay for “no-show” jobs facilitated by veteran California lobbyist Greg Campbell, including one reportedly arranged for McCluskie’s wife.
The indictment, first reported by The Sacramento Bee, also states that Williamson misled Becerra about how the money was being used, claiming that he was purchasing campaign consulting services.
“Disguising personal luxuries as business expenses—especially to claim improper tax deductions or to willfully file fraudulent tax returns is a serious criminal offense with severe consequences,” Internal Revenue Service Special Agent Linda Nguyen said in a press release published by the Department of Justice.
Williamson was Newsom’s third chief of staff and previously ran a consulting firm, Grace Public Affairs. She also worked for former Govs. Jerry Brown and Gray Davis and has long been a fixture in Democratic politics in Sacramento, according to The Sacramento Bee.
Newsom’s office told Politico Wednesday night that it put Williamson on leave last year after learning she was under criminal investigation, and emphasized that she had no current connection to the administration.
A spokesperson also emphasized in a statement that Newsom maintains a high ethical bar for his staff.
“Ms. Williamson no longer serves in this administration. While we are still learning details of the allegations, the Governor expects all public servants to uphold the highest standards of integrity,” a spokesperson for Newsom wrote.
According to the indictment, between February 2022 and September 2024, the group opened new bank accounts using Becerra’s campaign credentials and fabricated invoices to disguise personal spending as legitimate campaign activity. Prosecutors alleged Williamson orchestrated the transfers, approving phony reimbursements and creating fake consulting contracts to conceal the theft.
Williamson is alleged to have drawn from the campaign fund to give it to a company controlled by Campbell, which would then pay a third-party payroll firm that in turn paid McCluskie’s spouse for consulting work that never occurred.
Federal officials also accused Williamson of falsifying documents to obtain federal COVID-19 relief loans through her consulting firm. The indictment details how she allegedly claimed her company had paid subcontractors and employees who did not exist and then used the money to cover credit card bills and personal expenses. In later filings, prosecutors said Williamson inflated business deductions on her tax returns by more than $1 million.
The indictment alleges that Williamson continued to participate in the schemes after joining the Newsom administration in 2023, turning operational control over to an unnamed coconspirator while maintaining oversight of the fraudulent accounts.
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