A former top aide to California Governor Gavin Newsom has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges in a scheme to steal campaign funds from a leading candidate for governor.
Sacramento, CA – Dana Williamson, a former chief of staff to California Governor Gavin Newsom, is set to plead guilty to three counts—including bank fraud and lying to authorities—in connection with an alleged conspiracy to siphon money from the dormant campaign account of Xavier Becerra, now a leading candidate for California governor. In exchange for the plea, federal prosecutors will dismiss 20 other counts against her.
Key Figures and the Alleged Scheme
- Williamson was arrested in November 2025 and had previously pleaded not guilty.
- Two other advisors who worked with her have already pleaded guilty in December 2025.
- Prosecutors allege that Williamson, Becerra's then-chief of staff Sean McCluskie, and lobbyist Greg Campbell orchestrated a scheme to funnel money from Becerra's inactive state campaign account to McCluskie.
The alleged motive: McCluskie needed the money to afford frequent flights home to see his family in California while working for Becerra in Washington, D.C.
Williamson and another consultant charged Becerra's account up to $10,000 per month for the stated purpose of managing the dormant state campaign account. According to court documents, Becerra approved the payments, which were recommended by his chief of staff, McCluskie. Becerra has maintained he was unaware of any criminal behavior.
Legal Proceedings and Defense Statements
A court hearing is scheduled for the morning of the plea agreement.
Williamson's attorney, McGregor Scott, stated that federal authorities initially approached Williamson seeking her cooperation in a probe into Governor Newsom, and that she refused.
Background and Broader Context
Williamson has a long career in California politics, having worked for former Governors Jerry Brown and Gray Davis, and she has been a noted mentor to other women in the field.
The federal investigations have also reportedly involved the state's handling of alleged sexual harassment at Activision Blizzard Inc. However, Becerra has not been charged and is portrayed by prosecutors as a victim of the scheme.
Becerra's Response
Xavier Becerra described the charges as a "gut punch," reiterating that he was completely unaware of the criminal activity and that the payments were recommended to him by his own staff.