Gavin Newsom’s former Chief of Staff was just arrested by the FBI and charged with bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States– which includes funneling campaign money for personal use.
#california
Dana Williamson, the former chief of staff to Governor Newsom, was arrested by the FBI.
Prosecutors say Williamson siphoned millions from dormant political campaign accounts for personal use, raising questions about oversight in Newsom’s inner circle.
The indictment, unsealed today in U.S. District Court in Sacramento, accuses Williamson and four accomplices of exploiting forgotten campaign funds from high-profile politicians, including former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
#sacramento
If convicted, Williamson could face up to 20 years behind bars on the most serious counts.
The public corruption investigation exposes a pattern of alleged financial misconduct from California’s one-party Democrat political machine.
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Critics, including Republican leaders, claim that there are too many instances of fraud and corruption surrounding Newsom for him not to know about them, or be involved.
Details of the scheme:
Williamson, a longtime Democratic consultant, allegedly stole over $1.5 million from at least 15 dormant campaign committees between 2018 and 2023.
Funds were rerouted through sham consulting firms and fake reimbursements for non-existent services.
Arrested alongside Williamson were political operatives Greg Campbell and Sean McCluskie, plus two other people that were not named.
All face conspiracy charges, with the group accused of falsifying bank records to launder the money.
Among the raided accounts were those tied to Becerra’s 2018 gubernatorial bid and other Democratic campaigns, where leftover donations—meant for political purposes—were instead stolen and used one luxury purchases, travel, and personal debts.
Prosecutors also say Williamson tried to cover her tracks by deleting emails and coaching witnesses on what to say, leading to additional charges of obstruction of justice.
Williamson served as Newsom’s chief of staff from 2019 to 2021.
While Newsom’s office has distanced itself, saying Williamson left “on good terms” years ago, the arrest brings up questions about the governor’s tolerance for criminal conduct with in his administration – as many bring up past scandals like the unemployment fraud debacle that cost California billions under his watch.
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Federal investigators, tipped off by routine IRS audits of political nonprofits, unraveled the plot through bank records and undercover communications.
One GOP strategist said, “It’s not just fraud—it’s a symptom of a system rigged for insiders, eroding faith in government at every level.”