Dana Williamson, the former chief of staff to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, pleaded guilty Thursday to multiple federal charges tied to a sweeping political corruption and fraud investigation that has shaken California’s political establishment ahead of the state’s 2026 gubernatorial race.
Williamson admitted guilt to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, filing a false tax return, and making false statements to the FBI as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors.
The case centers on allegations that Williamson helped orchestrate a scheme to divert roughly $225,000 from a dormant political campaign account tied to former Biden Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who is now running for governor of California.
According to prosecutors, the money was funneled through consulting contracts and business entities before ultimately benefiting Becerra’s longtime chief of staff, Sean McCluskie. Federal authorities described the payments as compensation for what prosecutors called a “no-show job.”
Williamson had originally been indicted on 23 federal counts in November 2025. As part of the plea agreement, 20 of those charges were dropped. Two other figures connected to the case, McCluskie and Sacramento lobbyist Greg Campbell, have already pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
BREAKING: Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff pleads guilty to money laundering and tax fraud.
Dana Williamson, Newsom’s chief of staff in 2022 and 2024, appeared in court in Sacramento to plead guilty to counts of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, subscribing to a… pic.twitter.com/NIBagYTagT
— E X X ➠A L E R T S (@ExxAlerts) May 14, 2026
Neither Newsom nor Becerra has been accused of wrongdoing. Prosecutors have repeatedly described Becerra as a victim of the fraud scheme, though the scandal has become a growing political liability during the highly competitive governor’s race.
Federal prosecutors said the investigation uncovered additional misconduct beyond the campaign fund diversion.
Court documents allege Williamson falsely claimed more than $1 million in business deductions for personal expenses, including private jet travel, luxury hotel stays, designer handbags, home furnishings, and payments benefiting friends and family.
Authorities also accused Williamson of obstructing a federal investigation into Paycheck Protection Program loans connected to her business during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to prosecutors, Williamson and an associate allegedly created false backdated contracts after receiving a civil subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in January 2024 related to PPP loans.
Federal investigators further alleged Williamson lied to FBI agents during interviews about the campaign fund diversion, the contracts, and allegations of public corruption.
Dana Williamson’s attorney McGregor Scott says at sentencing they will argue she was trying to help a friend.
Williamson has pleaded guilty in case where she helped Xavier Becerra’s longtime chief of staff steal funds from his campaign account. pic.twitter.com/ne4ihgjSFp
— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) May 14, 2026
“This is a crucial step in an ongoing political corruption investigation that began more than three years ago,” U.S. Attorney Eric Grant said when the indictment was first announced in 2025. “As it always has, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect the people of California from political corruption.”
FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel described the case as the result of “three years of relentless investigative work” conducted alongside IRS Criminal Investigation and federal prosecutors.
IRS Criminal Investigation officials also pointed to the alleged misuse of business deductions as a major component of the case.
“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,” IRS Criminal Investigation Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen said in a statement.
The investigation was led jointly by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Williamson, 53, of Carmichael, served for years as one of Newsom’s closest political allies and top advisers before transitioning into political consulting work. Her guilty plea now marks one of the most significant public corruption cases tied to California Democratic political circles in recent years.
The plea deal sharply reduces Williamson’s potential criminal exposure, though she still faces significant prison time. Federal statutes tied to the original charges carried maximum penalties ranging from three years to 20 years in prison depending on the offense.
Sentencing will ultimately be determined by a federal judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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